Updated on
Summary Russia will host either Belgium or Serbia in the semifinals on April 21-22.
Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second reverse singles Sunday to secure Russia an unsurmountable 3-1 lead over Spain in the Fed Cup World Group first-round series.Russia will host either Belgium or Serbia in the semifinals on April 21-22.In the early reverse singles match, Carla Suarez Navarro routed Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-3 to give Spain its first point in the tie.Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova easily won their opening singles on Saturday.Kuznetsova won four consecutive games in the first set and continued with three more in the second.But she then lost concentration and Soler-Espinosa won the rest of the games in the second set to stay in the match. The Russian two-time major winner continued to struggle in the third set before Kuznetsova finally broke the Spaniard in the eighth game and served the match out.Kuznetsova said that support from the home crowd helped to win.At such tough moments when you feel bad ... nothing is going on on the court, you feel the support from the crowd, Kuznetsova said. You play for your country, it motivates you and it helps you to find strength for victory.Suarez Navarro rallied from 40-love in the opening game and won the rest of the games to close the set in 22 minutes. After an exchange of breaks early in the second set, the Spaniard broke decisively in the sixth game and wrapped up the win on her first match point as Petrova netted a forehand.We were 2-0 down after the first day and I had to (take a) risk to win today, Suarez Navarro. Now we have one point. I hope Silvia will also play better today.After easy victories on Saturday, Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev replaced Sharapova the original draw, who felt pain in her right arm on Sunday morning with Petrova.Suarez Navarro said she was surprised with the substitution and added that it was much better for me.Petrova, who is 10-5 in Fed Cup matches and last played for Russia in 2009, couldnt find her rhythm through the entire match. She made 40 unforced mistakes and had only eight winners.Its tough to play at full strength when you are told to step on the court at the last minute, said Petrova, who was scheduled to play in the doubles match. Psychologically its easier to play when you are tuned for the match. I couldnt feel my game today.Petrova then paired with Kuznetsova to play the Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja in the doubles match.Russia has won the Fed Cup title four times since 2004 and is 5-1 against Spain, which won the title five times between 1991 and 1998.
