Russia sets up home semifinal
 Defending
champion Russia is guaranteed a home semifinal after defeating
Israel 4-1 in the first round of the 2008 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
in Ramat Hasharon. The team will play host to the winner of
the USA versus Germany tie, which will be completed on Monday
in La Jolla after no play was possible on Sunday due to rain.
China and Spain also recorded first round victories to set
up a semifinal in China. China achieved its first ever World
Group win by defeating France 3-2 in Beijing, while Spain
upset 2006 champion Italy 3-2 in Naples. The semifinal ties
will take place on 26-27 April. For further information visit
www.fedcup.com.
Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova scored two comfortable
victories on her Fed Cup debut for Russia. After Shahar Peer
overcame Dinara Safina 06 62 62 to give the hosts a 1-0 lead,
Sharapova defeated Tzipi Obziler 60 64 and Peer 61 61. Anna
Chakvetdaze saw the Russians home with a 64 62 triumph over
Obziler.
The Russians now have to wait for the result of the tie in
La Jolla, which stood at 1-1 after the opening day. Germany’s
Sabine Lisicki scored a shock 61 75 victory over Lindsay Davenport
in the opening rubber, before Ashley Harkleroad defeated Tatjana
Malek 61 63 to level the tie for the Americans.
China withstood a fightback from France to win a dramatic
deciding doubles in Beijing. Wins for Shuai Peng and Na Li
put the hosts 2-0 up after the opening day, before Virginie
Razzano and Nathalie Dechy levelled the tie on day two. Zi
Yan and Jie Zheng then booked China’s place in the semifinals
with a 75 76(5) doubles victory over Dechy and Razzano.
The biggest surprise came in Naples, where Spain built up
a winning 3-0 lead over Italy. Anabel Medina Garrigues starred
for the visitors with straight sets victories over Flavia
Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone, after Nuria Llagostera Vives
had upset Schiavone 76(4) 36 62 in the opening rubber.
The four World Group first round losers will contest the
World Group Play-offs, also on 26-27 April, against the four
World Group II winners, Argentina, Czech Republic, Japan and
Ukraine. Argentina saw off Austria 4-1 in Buenos Aires: Czech
Republic defeated neighbours Slovak Republic 3-2 in Brno;
Japan overcame Croatia 4-1 in Mikishi; while Ukraine scored
a 3-2 victory over Belgium in Kharkov.
The four World Group II first round losers will contest the
World Group II Play-offs on 26-27 April against the four qualifiers
from last week’s Fed Cup Zonal Group I events: Colombia
(Americas Zone), Uzbekistan (Asia/Oceania Zone), Serbia and
Switzerland (Europe/Africa Zone). Full reports, photographs
and audio interviews from the weekend’s World Group
and World Group II ties can be found on www.fedcup.com.
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