Russia Tops U.S. to Reach Fed Cup Final
April 27, 2008
No Serena. No Venus. No Lindsay. And no spot in the Fed Cup final for the United States.
Russia, the defending champion, advanced to its fourth Fed Cup final in the past five years on Sunday, when it completed a 3-2 victory over the United States in the semifinals in Moscow. The Russians clinched the victory when Vera Zvonareva rallied to defeat Vania King, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the first reverse singles match, giving her team a 3-0 lead.
Russia will face Spain, a five-time Fed Cup champion, in the final in September. Spain, which will appear in its first final since 2002, completed a 4-1 victory over China in its semifinal Sunday in Beijing.
The United States was without Venus Williams, who pulled out last week because of an injury; Serena Williams, who had already said she would not play; and Lindsay Davenport, who withdrew from a tournament last week with flulike symptoms.
“I was disappointed,” Zina Garrison, the United States team captain, said of the withdrawals, adding: “On the other hand, I’m very proud of these young girls. They did what they had to do. They came here and showed that they did have a future.”
Garrison, who led the team to four consecutive Fed Cup semifinals, is stepping down after five years as the captain. Mary Joe Fernandez will succeed her.
After Russia went ahead, 3-0, Ahsha Rolle defeated Elena Vesnina, 6-3, 6-4, then King paired with Liezel Huber to beat Vesnina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6 (3), 6-4, in the doubles.
Russia has won three of the last four Fed Cup titles. The United States has won a record 17 Cup titles, but none since 2000.