USA white-washes Belarus in the opening round of Fed Cup WG II 2012 – Tennis News
Christina McHale started the proceedings for the American squad and she plonked the Belarusian tennis ace, Anastasia Yakimova, in straight sets 6-0, 6-4. She laid the foundation for an emphatic clean sweep by her team that
was led by the class of Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
Serena doubled the lead for her country with a blistering display of power. She dominated the show, especially in the second half of the match by bagging the match with 7-5, 6-0. It was the second bagel that was registered
by the American team which shows the level of domination by the winning squad at DCU Center, Worcester, America.
Belarusian tennis icon, Anastasia Yakimova, was squashed by the former world number one, Serena Williams, in the third singles rubber of the tie. Serena sealed the third and an unassailable win for her country in the tie
with cumulative scores of 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Serena was ought to win the contest provided the difference in the rankings and the experience of the American.
Unfortunately for Belarus, their prolific tennis ace and reigning world number one, Victoria Azarenka, couldn’t play the tie due to fatigue issues. Yakimova was disappointed at her compatriot’s decision of not playing in
the contest. She stated, “Obviously it's a big loss for us that she couldn't play but if she's injured, it's tough. It can happen to everyone, that's life.”
McHale crushed Darya Kustova in the fourth match of the tie. She pulled curtains for her opponent winning 12 of the 13 games played in the match with final scores of 6-1, 6-0. The couple of performances put forth by her in
the tie definitely impressed everyone, especially the American’s Fed Cup team captain who applauded her on her emphatic triumph in the second match.
Later on in the tie, Venus made a return to the tennis arena; teaming up with the doubles world number one, Liezel Huber and defeated the team of Darya Kustova and Anastasia Yakimova. The doubles triumph completed the white-wash
for the American squad winning the contest 5-0.
Venus was happy to make a successful comeback and stated, “It was perfect conditions. It felt great. It was everything I expected.” The statement shows that she is delighted to return to the arena. She was fighting a chronic
disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, since her departure from the professional circuit in August last year.
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