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Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas champions
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Vesnina (RUS)
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas champions
Photographer: Craig Gabriel
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 14 Sep 2008
14 Sep 2008 - Club de Campo, Madrid - ESP v RUS
Russia retain Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title
Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame Anabel Medina Garrigues to secure Russia's defence of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title.



On paper it always looked as though it would be a near impossibility for Spain to claim their first Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title in 10 years, and in reality it was. However, their no. 1 player put up a spirited fight today against a player ranked some 22 places above her to give the home crowd something to really shout about.

Great start by the Russian

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Fed Cup was on its way to Russia after Kuznetsova raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. With some ruthless and aggressive baseline play the Russian was soon a double break up and you were led to believe, in total control of the match. The tide suddenly turned however as Medina Garrigues broke her opponent in the fifth game. This victory gave the Spaniard a new found confidence and she started taking her chances. Buoyed by the vociferous crowd, she saved five sets points at 4-5. Kuznetsova on the other hand, became flustered and erratic, producing over 30 unforced errors and with the crowd on their feet, chanting and waving their flags, she was unable to maintain her composure. A spectacular collapse from the world No. 7 allowed Medina Garrigues to take seven from eight games and claim the first set 75 after one hour and ten minutes

Kuznetsova regrouped and came out all guns blazing to shoot to a 3-1 lead in the second set, an advantage she lost again as Medina Garrigues fought her way back to level the set at 3-3. The frustration from the Russian started to show, kicking a ball that came back to her after she’d sent it wide. A combination of experience and a wise choice of words from the Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev put her back on track this time. She produced winners when it mattered and with a second burst of energy she successfully served out the set at 5-3 to bring things all square in the third rubber.

"It's amazing to win another Fed Cup" - Kuznetsova

The Russian’s inconsistency was almost her downfall today; she squandered another 3-1 lead in the third set to allow Medina Garrigues back into the match. The world No. 29 held serve for 4-5 but Kuznetsova knew she had to take her chances, producing two consecutive aces in this final game before the Spaniard sent the return of serve wide to give her opponent victory. This was Kuznetsova’s fifth successive victory over the Spaniard, but much more importantly, this gave her that vital third point which ensured Russia is the 2008 Fed Cup Champion.

“It's amazing to win another Fed Cup for my team. It's been a tough year with a lot of ups and downs,” said Kuznetsova, who is now unbeaten in Fed Cup singles matches since 2004.

“I played better today. I was more consistent; I made fewer mistakes and rallied well. I was more relaxed and felt less pressure,” said the Spaniard. “We should be very satisfied to have made the final. Nobody would have thought that at the start of the year. We did all we could and no-one should have any regrets.”

Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova made it a clean sweep for the Russians, taking the dead doubles rubber against Nuria Llagostera Vives and Carla Suarez Navarro 62 61.

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 Kuznetsova
> Kuznetsova too strong for Suarez Navarro
> As it happened - Medina Garrigues v Zvonareva
> Zvonareva puts Russia ahead
> As it happened - Kuznetsova v Suarez-Navarro

Related audio

  Interview with Anabel Medina Garrgues (ESP) - day 2

  Interview with Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) - day 2

  Interview with Spanish captain Miguel Margets - day 2

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