SPORTS

The Russian women’s team progressed to the semifinals of the Federation Cup, having beaten the Spaniards 3-2 at Moscow’s Olimpiisky sports center last weekend.

The tie’s most crucial match was between Svetlana Kuznetsova and Silvia Soler-Espinosa, which Kuznetsova won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, ensuring a 3-1 lead for the hosts.

“[The quarterfinals] turned out to be difficult because of our mistakes, and because the Spanish team played really well,” Kuznetsova was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

The tie began well for Russia as Maria Sharapova, the world’s No. 3 and Russia’s highest ranked player, defeated Soler-Espinosa (No. 77) 6-2, 6-1 in the opening match on Saturday. The same day, Kuznetsova (No. 19) beat Carla Suarez Navarro (No. 55) 6-3, 6-1.

But the Spaniards were able to narrow the gap on Sunday, as Nadia Petrova (No. 29) replaced Sharapova, who reportedly came down with a cold, in a match against Suarez Navarro. Petrova faced a 0-6 humiliation in the first set and was similarly unable to show much resistance to Navarro in the second set, losing it 3-6.

Petrova explained her defeat by having had insufficient time to prepare for her match. “It was obviously frustrating to find out that I had to play just two hours before the match,” she was quoted as saying by the Fed Cup official web site. “Phsychologically it was very difficult for me to prepare because I was in such a rush to get to the warm up and getting myself ready to play, so when I got on the court, I could not get my thoughts together.”

It was up to Kuznetsova to decide the tie’s final score, and she played an excellent first set, winning it 6-2, and was also 4-1 ahead in the second set, but failed to lead it to a win.

“I always fight and I fight for every point and I want to do my best,” Soler-Espinosa was quoted as saying by the Fed Cup web site. “I think Svetlana became a little nervous because she wanted to win and I managed to take advantage of this.”

Still, Kuznetsova earned a crucial break point in the decisive third set, which paved the way for her victory and Russia’s overall win.

Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra-Santonja earned a consolation point as opponents Kuznetsova and Petrova conceded after Spain took the first set 6-3.

Russia has made the Federation Cup semifinals in each of the last five years, but it hasn’t won the trophy since 2008. Last year, the Russians were stopped by the Czechs in the final. This season, in the semifinals, Russia is to face Serbia, which beat Belgium 3-2 in Charleroi last weekend.

The semifinals will be held in Moscow in April.