Tennis: Kuznetsova powers Russia to Fed Cup title

MOSCOW - Russia won their third Fed Cup tennis title in four years today when Svetlana Kuznetsova saved two match points in a second set tiebreak before beating Italy's Francesca Schiavone 4-6 7-6 7-5 in the first reverse singles.

Kuznetsova's victory gave the home team an unassailable 3-0 lead over last year's surprise winners Italy in the final at Moscow's Luzhniki arena.

Russia eventually won the two-day tie 4-0.

Elena Vesnina stepped in for world No 5 Anna Chakvetadze to beat Italy No 2 Mara Santangelo 6-2 6-4 in the dead singles rubber before the two teams decided to cancel the doubles match.

Heavy favourites Russia had enjoyed a commanding 2-0 lead after day one when Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze both won their singles.

Kuznetsova, who crushed Santangelo 6-1 6-2 yesterday, had to dig deep to pull off the win against the combative Schiavone in a seesawing battle that lasted two hours 45 minutes.

- REUTERS