Russia bounces back to outclass Slovakia – Fed Cup 2013
Russian team made a drastic start and lost the opening two rubbers on Saturday. However, they made an epic comeback to triumph over the Slovakia team at the Fed Cup 2013 on Sunday.
The Russians displayed dismal performances in the opening two rubbers. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova bowed out to Dominika Cibulkova after winning the opening set in the first rubber. Kirilenko on the other hand was edged out by Daniela Hantuchova with a 2-6,
4-6 loss in the second rubber.
In the third rubber on Sunday, the Slovaks made quick in-roads and bagged the opening set. However, they lost their track afterwards and eventually endured a 6-4, 3-6, 1-6 loss against Makarova and Elena Vesnina.
The 26-year-old maintained her intensity in the fourth rubber. She jolted down a 7-5, 6-1 victory against the world number 15, Cibulkova, at this clay court event. With this victory Kirilenko not only avenged her loss at the Sydney WTA event two years ago
but also took lead in the head-to-head series by 3-1 against the Slovak.
Kirilenko lost her serve in the opening game of the second set. However, she went berserk and not only went on a six-game killing spree. As a result the Russian sealed the deal with a breadstick.
The beaming Kirilenko stated in an interview after conquering the match:
"She started very well - actually I did as well, but I just needed to keep going and mixing my game up, and I turned it around. I'm really happy about my game today. Unlike yesterday I was playing my own game today, and that's how I feel comfortable on the
court, so I'm happy. Today I just decided not to slide. I just played like on hard courts, to come to the ball without any sliding, and it really helped."
In the deciding rubber, Makarova showed her class and steal the show for the Russian team. She lost her track in the second set but sought her rhythm again, eventually clobbering a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 score line.
"The crowd helped me so much. I really enjoyed this match today - it was a great fight," Makarova was quoted in the post match press conference.
As a result, the Russian team secured a spot in the title-round at this event held between nations.
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