2011 Fed Cup: Champions Italy defeat Australia to continue title defence
Two-time defending champions, Italy moved past Australia in the first round of the 2011 Fed Cup World Group to ensure a spot for themselves in the final four. In its 49th edition, the Fed Cup is a major ITF event, equivalent
of the Davis Cup, and is played between all-women teams.
The World Group is comprised of eight teams. Seeded first, Italy were drawn against long time rivals, Australia in round one. Five rubbers were to be played over the course of two days, including four singles and one doubles tie.
Corrado Barazzutti is captain of the Italian team which comprises of world number four Francesca Schiavone; formerly ranked as the world number 10, Flavia Pennetta; Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. Team Australia, on the other hand, brought in the world number
five Samantha Stosur; Jarmila Groth; Anastasia Rodionova and Rennae Stubbs under captain David Taylor.
The tie which was set at the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart, Australia, had the local team enjoying the statistical-c*m-psychological advantage with an all time head-to-head score of a perfect 5-0, along with the home crowd support.
However, what followed was a total disappointment for the locals as they failed to win four of the five rubbers despite their strong start in the opening rubber.
The tie kicked off in emphatic fashion as Groth took on Schiavone. Despite being ranked much below her Italian counterpart, it came as much surprise to everyone when Groth, capitalizing on the home court advantage, bounced back
from being one set down to ensure a three-set win for herself. A neck-to-neck run in the opener pushed the first set into a tiebreaker which Groth, despite much resistance, lost 6-7(4). However, the world number 31 fought back hard in the second set and broke
her opponent’s serve once to clinch the set 6-3; thus, levelling the set score. Maintaining her form in the deciding set, Groth registered another 6-3 score to put Australia in the lead.
Little did she know that this would be the only win to come their way.
In rubber number two, the Italian star, Pennetta met Stosur. Added to the pressure of having never beaten Australia was the fact that team Australia already led the tie score 1-0. However, a cool, calm and collected Pennetta not
only took Stosur to three sets but also ensured a fighting chance for the Italians. After pushing the first set into a tiebreaker, the 28-year-old Pennetta won it, 7-6(5). However, bouncing back in the second set, Stosur returned the world number 16 the favour
as she defeated her 6-7(5) in the tiebreaker. With the set score tied at 1-1, the match was dragged into the decider which Pennetta clinched 6-4, having broken the Aussie’s service once.
With both the rubbers split between the two teams, the tie soon changed to 2-1 in Italy’s favour when Stosur lost her second straight tie to Schiavone the following day, February 6. After recovering from her first rubber loss to
Groth, Schiavone survived a mid-match lapse against Stosur to prevail 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-5.
Courtesy Pennetta, Italy sealed a 3-1 victory as she defeated Groth in straight sets in the fourth rubber. After losing only five games, Pennetta registered a 6-3, 6-2 win for the match, ensuring Italy’s survival in the draw.
This was Italy’s first win ever against Australia in the Fed Cup. Having met first in 1979, Australia stood on a five-tie winning streak.
The perfect victory against Australia was sealed with Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci bouncing back from being one set down and securing a win in the doubles rubber against Rodionova and Stubbs. The score line was 2-6, 7-6(1), and
6-4, making the final tie score a notable 4-1.
Italy now moves ahead to play third seeded Russia in the semi-finals which begin on 16 April and end on 17 April.
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