Russia managed to become the first nation to come back from 0-2 down in a Fed Cup World Group semifinal, by beating Slovakia 3-2. After Day 1 action, Russia had the worrying deficit, but now one of the most lucrative Fed Cup countries is closer to its fifth Fed Cup title.
Yesterday, Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova were victorious against Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Maria Kirilenko, but in today’s reverse singles, Kirilenko kept her country’s hopes alive, recovering from a 1-3 deficit to overcome Cibulkova 7-5 6-1, then Ekaterina Makarova, Pavlyuchenkova’s replacement, won two consecutive three-setters – 6-3 4-6 6-4 over Hantuchova in singles and 4-6 6-3 6-1 with Elena Vesnina in doubles against Cibulkova and Hantuchova .
Russia’s opponent in the final will be the winner of the semifinal between the Czech Republic and Italy, to be determined on Monday. Right now Italy leads 2-1. Czech Petra Kvitova kept her team alive with today’s 2-6 6-2 6-0 win over Sara Errani, following yesterday’s Czech loss of both singles rubbers.
