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Russians take 2-0 lead in Fed Cup semis versus United States

Sat 26th, April 2008

Moscow, Russia (Sports Network) - Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anna Chakvetadze put the reigning-champion Russians in perfect position to attempt a repeat with straight-set victories over a pair of young, unproven Americans in the Fed Cup World Group semifinals.

Chakvetadze, the seventh ranked player in the world, was far too powerful for 115th-ranked Vania King, breaking the American in the fifth game of the first set and rolling to a 6-4, 7-5 victory. In the other rubber, the United States Open runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova made quick work of Ahsha Rolle, downing the young American in her Fed Cup debut, 6-2, 6-1.

King made a victory difficult on Chakvetadze in the second set, serving at 4-4 and trying to force a third and deciding set. Chakvetadze, however, answered with a break, but followed with two wasted match points and a lost serve for 5-5.

She broke King in the 11th game and sealed the 84-minute victory with a hold of serve that included two break chances turned away.

Kuznetsova had little difficulty with Rolle, and she will face King on Sunday. The best-of-five tie on red clay at "Luzhniki" also continues with Chakvetadze versus Rolle, while the fifth and final rubber, the doubles, currently calls for a Russian tandem of Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva to take on an American duo of King and world No. 1 doubles player Liezel Huber, formerly of South Africa.

The 17-time champion Americans are captained by Zina Garrison, who's in her last year as the skipper, while the powerful Russians are guided by Shamil Tarpischev, who also captains the Russian Davis Cup team. Garrison also has teenager Madison Brengle at her disposal this week.

The U.S. is playing without any of its top performers, including former top- ranked stars Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport, all of whom made themselves unavailable this week. None of the Americans playing this week are ranked inside the WTA Tour's top 100.

Russia has won three of the last four Fed Cup titles, while the U.S. hasn't captured the chalice since 2000. The Russians topped Italy in last year's finale.

The USA-Russia winner will meet the Spain-China victor in the final in September.

Fed Cup is the world's largest annual international women's team competition, with 86 countries competing this year.

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