MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina were delighted with their doubles win over Ayumi Morita and Misaki Doi that put Russia through to the semifinals. The Russia girls also look forward to the semifinal which will be held at home in Russia.
Morita talked to our reporter Richard van Poorvliet twice today, once saying how happy she is that she won the singles rubber that gave Japan a 2-1 lead, and again after the doubles when she was disappointed to lose but wasn't really surprised because of the strength and experience of the Russian doubles team.
Ayumi Morita beat Elena Vesnina in Sunday's opening rubber to put Japan on the brink of a place in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinal. She admitted after that the Japanese team did not really expect to be in the position of being ahead in the tie on the second day but that they had nothing to lose against a strong Russian team.
Vesnina credited her opponent for ready her game although also said that she didn't play her best and that the Russian team still believe they can win the tie.
Kimiko Date-Krumm went on to lose the fourth rubber against Ekaterina Makarova and tells how she only decided to play in the match while watching the fight of Ayumi Morita as she was fighting a right achilles injury.
Japan will contest a World Group play-off in April and will learn their opponent at the draw which takes place on 13 February at the ITF headquarters in London.
Elena Vesnina (RUS) - 10/02/2013
Ayumi Morita (JPN) - 10/02/2013
Captain Takeshi Murakami (JPN) - 10/02/2013
Ayumi Morita (JPN) - 10/02/2013 - after doubles
Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina (RUS) - 10/02/2013
Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) - 10/02/2013