Serena helps put US up 2-0 on Belarus (AP)
Serena Williams was back in the Fed Cup on Saturday for the first time in five years, giving the United States a strong lineup. Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka was hoping to provide a similar lift for Belarus, but she was sidelined by a lower back injury. The Americans capitalized with straight-set victories by Williams and Christina McHale for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which concludes...
|
Sharapova wins, Russia leads Spain 2-0 (AP)
Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova won opening singles matches Saturday to give Russia a 2-0 lead over Spain in the first round of the Fed Cup. Sharapova routed Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 6-1. Kuznetsova then downed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-1. After an early exchange of breaks, Sharapova won four consecutive games in the first set and four more in the second.
|
Kvitova rallies, Czechs up 2 on Germany (AP)
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova rallied to outlast Julia Goerges 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 Saturday, giving defending champ Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Germany in the first round of the Fed Cup. In the first match of the best-of-five series, Iveta Benesova also had to come from behind to beat Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
|
Monfils saves match point to reach final (AP)
Defending champion Gael Monfils saved a match point to edge Gilles Simon 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in an all-French match Saturday and reach the Open Sud de France final. Monfils will meet top-seeded Tomas Berdych, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-4. Berdych is going for his first title since winning the China Open in October.
|
Lacko to face Youzhny in Zagreb final (AP)
Lukas Lacko of Slovakia reached his first ATP final when he ousted 2007 champion Marcos Baghdatis 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the Zagreb Indoors semifinals on Saturday. Lacko, playing on the main tour since 2007, will face third-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, who is seeking his eighth title in his 18th career final. Youzhny advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Michael Berrer of Germany.
|
Wickmayer pulls Belgium even with Serbia (AP)
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium won in straight sets Saturday, leaving this opening-round Fed Cup series tied after the first day. Jankovic, once ranked No. 1, beat Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 7-5. Wickmayer then downed Bojana Jovanovski 6-4, 6-4. Kim Clijsters decided to sit out the opening round for Belgium in her farewell season.
|
Errani wins, but Italy tied with Ukraine (AP)
Lesia Tsurenko routed 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-2 Saturday, leaving Ukraine tied with Italy after their opening singles matches at the Fed Cup. Earlier on the indoor red-clay court at the Lauretana Forum, Sara Errani followed her quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open by beating Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 6-3.
|