 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 13 Sep 2008 |
|
| 13 Sep 2008 - Club de Campo, Madrid - Barbara Travers - ESP v RUS | |
| Zvonareva puts Russia ahead |
Russia’s wish for a successful defense of their 2007 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title was given a lift when their No. 2 Vera Zvonareva defeated the Spanish No. 1 Anabel Medina Garrigues 63 64 to give the holders the first point in the 2008 Final. Under perfect conditions at the Club de Campo in suburban Madrid, Zvonareva recovered from a break at the start of the second set to defeat the Spaniard, converting her first match point with an emphatic cross-court forehand to seal victory.
Spain’s best hopes of winning a sixth Fed Cup title needed a good start from their No. 1 Medina but the Olympic bronze medallist Zvonareva had other ideas taking the first three games of the first set. Medina looked shaky and very down on herself but regrouped, breaking back and then serving at 40-15 to level the set. Zvonareva, however, won the next four points to regain the break and the upperhand in the set.The Russian No. 1, currently ranked 8 in the world, went on to serve out the first set 6-3.
Medina gains momentum
Medina started the second set by dropping serve in the opening game and things looked bleak for the Spanish after Zvonareva held serve for 2-0. But the momentum turned and Medina won the next four games for a 4-2 lead. In the seventh game, Medina dropped to 0-40 on her serve but, having clawed back two break points, Zvonareva finally converted and the set was back on serve.
With Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev looking on impassively, Zvonareva held serve to level the set at 4-4 and then pushed Medina on her serve. At 30-40, Medina committed an unforced error to hand the game to her opponent who will serve for the match at 5-4. The Russian fans came to life with flags flying in the stands at the Club de Campo in Madrid and celebrations continued as Zvonareva held serve to win the match and give Russia the lead in the tie.
"Happy to get through this one" - Zvonareva
"It's tough to play the first match, and I'm happy to get through this one," said Zvonareva. "I lost a little concentration in the middle of the second set and committed a few unforced errors while she came up with some good shots, but I was really happy that I could rais emy level again," she continued.
"She played very well. I couldn't find any consistency, which is key against a Top 10 player. My game was very up-and-down. I am always very nervous in the first match of the tie and today was the same. I found some consistency in the second set but could not maintain it."
Spanish fortunes will rest on their No. 2 Carla Suarez Navarro against former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Related Links on other websites
> Informacion en Espanol - RFET
> Information in Russian - RTF
Related Links on Fedcup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
> As it happened - Medina Garrigues v Zvonareva
Related audio
 Interview with Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)- day 1
Interview with Vera Zvonareva (RUS) - day 1
 
Update media player above.
|
Español
