Kraków (Poland) (AFP) – Former world number one Maria Sharapova sent Russia into the semi-finals of the Fed Cup on Sunday as she defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead. In front of a partisan home crowd of some 15,000, Sharapova, who recently lost the Australian Open final to Serena Williams, improved her record against the world No 8 to 12 wins against just two defeats. Sharapova hit a total of 39 winners on the indoor hardcourt, compared to 16 for Radwanska, and won the first set in 33 minutes. The doubles pairing of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Vitaliya Diatchenko later made it 4-0 as they beat Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska 6-4, 6-4. Following Sharapova’s victory over Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, combined with a three set win for veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova over Urszula’s sister Agnieszka, Russia cruised into the last four. French Open champion Sharapova is playing just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut but in order to make the Olympics next year all players have to make themselves available for the annual women’s team tournament. Radwanska saved two match points at 2-5 down in the second set to draw level at 5-5, but ran out of steam as five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova closed out the match in less than two hours.
“It is a very important win for me,” said Sharapova, who has often been criticised for not playing enough Fed Cup matches.
“Playing for the national team there is always added pressure.”
”It is never easy to play after a long journey, new surface and very little training on it,” Sharapova said. ”I tried to play my best tennis and I am happy that I won in two sets.’
Russia next hosts the winner of the match between Germany and Australia.
Earlier on Sunday, Paula Ormaechea of Argentina defeated Coco Vandeweghe 6-4 6-4 after Vandeweghe filled in for Serena Williams, who did not play because of illness.
Venus and Serena gave the United States a 2-0 lead on Saturday, defeating Ormaechea and Irigoyen.
Agnieszka Radwanska vs Maria Sharapova, 08/02/2015, 11:05 GMT, Match Center
Tennis Fed Cup: Sharapova trows Russia into semi-finals
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