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Sharapova gives Russia key 2-1 lead
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MARIA Sharapova came from a set down to defeat Petra Kvitova in the first reverse singles yesterday to give Russia a 2-1 lead over defending champion Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final.
In a matchup of two top-10 players, the fourth-ranked Sharapova rallied to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over the sixth-ranked Kvitova in 2-1/2 hours to put Russia one win away from its first Fed Cup title since 2008.
In the second reverse singles, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was taking on Karolina Pliskova who needs to win to keep the Czechs in the best-of-five series.
The tie is played at Prague’s O2 Arena, where security has been stepped up following the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Sharapova, 28, went 5-2 up in the final set before closing out with a forehand winner.
Kvitova, 25, was 4-6 head-to-head with Sharapova before yesterday’s clash after winning their previous encounter in the semifinal of the WTA Tour Finals in Singapore last month when Sharapova had come back from a four-month pause due to leg and arm problems.
On Saturday, Kvitova beat Pavlyuchenkova and Sharapova then won her first ever meeting with Pliskova to put Russia level.
If the score is tied at 2-2 after yesterday’s singles, Czechs Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova will play against Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the final doubles rubber.
The Czechs are seeking their fourth title in five years and ninth overall, including five as Czechoslovakia which went on to split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
Russia, which is 2-3 head-to-head with the Czechs, has won four titles so far.
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