 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 |
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| 13 Sep 2008 - Club de Campo, Madrid - ESP v RUS | |
| Kuznetsova too strong for Suarez Navarro |
Russia looks on course to secure its fourth Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title in five years after it took a 2-0 lead at the end of the first day. Svetlana Kuznetsova ensured it needs just one point from the remaining three matches to take victory after outclassing Carla Suarez-Navarro in straight sets 63 61.
The Russian hurtled to a 4-0 lead at the start of the first set before Suarez Navarro managed to get a game on the scoreboard. This achievement seemed to settle the 20-year-old’s nerves and give her a huge confidence boost and she subsequently broke Kuznetsova and then held serve to get right back into the match at 4-3. This provoked much flag waving, and cheerstix banging in the stadium and prompted Spanish captain Miguel Margets onto his feet.
Unfortunately this was as close as it got. Despite taking the eighth game to deuce, Suarez Navarro was unable to sustain the momentum. Kuznetsova produced a high number of unforced errors, but these were intertwined with some outright winners, as she took the set 6-3.
Kuznetsova too strong
The second set started in much the same way as the former US Open champion accelerated to a 3-0 lead. Her blistering forehand was just too much for Suarez Navarro, who seemed overawed by her first Fed Cup Final, committing several double faults throughout the match. She did however secure one game in the second set before Kuznetsova closed out the match 63 61 in one hour and 20 minutes.
"The key to the match was not to beat myself. I started to rush and try to play too well and she came back but then I started to take my time again and got back on top," explained Kuznetsova. "I get so much passion and energy when playing Fed Cup, I don't think about how I have been playing [in the past months] and just do my best."
"She was a very difficult opponent, she was forcing to play very deep in the court," said Suarez Navarro.
”Even more difficult now” - Margets
Spanish captain Miguel Margets said that the Russians’ previous Fed Cup final experience was key: “The difference is that this is the first final for my players and they started a little slowly.”
Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev may have stated in yesterday’s press conference that tennis is a game you can never predict but there was nothing unpredictable about today’s results. His opposite number is well aware that his team have a mountain to climb if there is any hope of them winning this final.
"At the start of the tie, it was very difficult, now it's even more difficult but we will continue to work hard.. We will learn from today. They need to be able to play at the same level as the Russians for the whole match, not just some of it," Margets said.
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
> Zvonareva puts Russia ahead
> As it happened - Kuznetsova v Suarez-Navarro
Related audio
 Interview with Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) - day 1
Interview with Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) - day 1
Interview with Miguel Margets (ESP) - day 1
 
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