Moscow, Nov 6: Russia and the Czech Republic split the opening singles in the Fed Cup final on Saturday after Grand Slam winners Petra Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetsova won their matches in straight sets.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova put the Czechs in the lead, beating Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-2 in the first match, but Kuznetsova then leveled the tie at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Lucie Safarova.
The title will be decided on Sunday with two reverse singles and a doubles match at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Kuznetsova broke Safarova twice in the first set and was leading 5-3 in the second when she clinched the victory on Safarova's serve with a backhand return on her first match point.
Kuznetsova, who is 15-6 in the Fed Cup, said that she felt under colossal pressure going into her match, but her experience helped her.
“I stayed focused through the entire match, I served well and aggressively,” Kuznetsova said. “I was more on the attack, I was changing rhythm and pace.”
Safarova said she didn't play well in the first set but then stepped up her game.
“I didn't catch the beginning of the match,” Safarova said. “Sveta (Kuznetsova) played very well in the second set and was not missing, so it was a tough match.”
After even play in the first four games, Kvitova dominated Kirilenko with powerful shots from the baseline and frequent volley winners.
“It was much tougher to win today and I lost much more energy then it may appear looking at the scoreline,” Kvitova said.
Kvitova won six consecutive games to take a set and 2-0 lead. Kvitova broke again in the seventh game of the second set and served the match out with an ace.
Kvitova was drawn to play Kuznetsova in the first reverse singles on Sunday. The two players have never played each other before.
“Kvitova is at the top of her game and I think it will be a very tough match,” Kuznetsova said. “But there is always a chance to beat her.”
In the second reverse singles, Kirilenko is due to play Safarova, with the doubles to follow, but the nominations are subject to change.
“In the Fed Cup you never know who will oppose you in the reverse singles, but I've won already and do not feel any pressure on my back,” Kvitova said.
The victory was Kvitova's 11th straight, following her back-to-back titles in Linz, Austria, and at the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Kirilenko, whose Fed Cup experience was limited to two matches five years ago, was a surprise choice as Russia's No. 2 for opening singles.
“In the beginning I felt I could overcome her (Kvitova's) powerful play from the base line,” Kirilenko said. “But midway through the first set, Petra (Kvitova) added power to her serve, making it tough to return. And I had no chance receiving today either.”
The Russian, ranked 27th, never threatened Kvitova with a break.
Russia, which is 4-0 in the finals, suffered a blow when world No. 7 Vera Zvonareva was forced to pull out of the tie because of shoulder injury on Friday.
Russia has won the Fed Cup title four times in five years since 2004 and is unbeaten at home in 10 ties since losing to France in the semifinals in 2003. The Czechs are five-time winners, but their last final appearance was in 1988 when, as Czechoslovakia, they beat the Soviet Union 2-1.
