Russia Fed Cup team

The Russia Fed Cup team represents Russia in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Russian Tennis Federation. They currently compete in the World Group.

Russia
CaptainIgor Andreev
ITF ranking11 (12 November 2018)
Colorsred & white
First year1968
Years played43
Ties played (W–L)137 (92–44)
Years in
World Group
33 (52–28)
Titles4 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Runners-up7 (1988, 1990, 1999, 2001
2011, 2013, 2015)
Most total winsLarisa Savchenko (40–11)
Most singles winsElena Dementieva (22–5)
Most doubles winsLarisa Savchenko (23–3)
Best doubles teamLarisa Savchenko /
Natasha Zvereva (12–1)
Most ties playedLarisa Savchenko (32)
Most years playedElena Vesnina (11)

Current team

As of February 7, 2019
Name DOB First Last Ties Win/Loss Ranks
Sin Dou Tot Sin Dou
Daria Kasatkina (1997-05-07)May 7, 1997 2016 2019 6 3–1 2–2 5–3 14 400
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (1991-07-03)July 3, 1991 2009 2019 13 6–9 5–2 11–11 32 55
Margarita Gasparyan (1994-09-01)September 1, 1994 2013 2019 4 0–2 0–2 0–4 77 89
Anastasia Potapova (2001-03-30)March 30, 2001 2018 2019 1 0–1 0–0 0–1 87 106
Natalia Vikhlyantseva (1997-02-16)February 16, 1997 2017 2019 5 3–1 1–0 4–1 109 345

History

Russia competed in its first Fed Cup in 1968, as the Soviet Union. They won the Cup in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, and have finished as runners-up four times.

Prior to 1992, Russian players represented the Soviet Union. In 1992, eleven countries which had previously been part of the Soviet Union played as the Commonwealth of Independent States, with Evgenia Manyukova and Elena Makarova, who both played in following years for Russia, and Elena Pogorelova, who played one doubles match in the Fed Cup.

2004–2008: Zenith

In 2008, the player staff was revised to include debut Maria Sharapova.[1][2] Dinara Safina replaced Svetlana Kuznetsova, who asked Tarpishchev not to include her as she wanted to fight for the top ranking with Amelie Mauresmo.[3] Anna Chakvetadze, Elena Vesnina and alternate Elena Likhovtseva were also announced for the first round against Israel.[4] As a result of the 4–1 win, the distance between the top-ranked Russian team and the second-placed team Italy increased to 12,847 points.[5]

In the semifinals against the United States, Sharapova was replaced by Kuznetsova. Captain Tarpishchev explained, that they came to an agreement to switch the two players, so that both can concentrate on their tennis schedule.[6] Likhovtseva was removed from the alternate position. Vera Zvonareva now took participation for the next match in the Luzhniki Stadium. Team Russia defeated the Americans without the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport and Ashley Harkleroad,[7] 3–2.[8]

The final took place in Madrid against Spain. Safina and Elena Dementieva decided not to participate this time.[9] Ekaterina Makarova made her debut in the doubles dead rubber match with Vesnina. Russia confidently defeated the Spaniards, 4–0.[10] Carla Suárez-Navarro after her loss in the second rubber called Russia the Queen of Tennis.[11]

2009–2013: Out of top ranking

The 2009 Fed Cup season started against Team China. Alisa Kleybanova, who previously defeated the 5th-seeded Ana Ivanovic in the third round of the Australian Open, debuted in this season.[12] Zvonareva decided to skip this match for Pattaya, where she would win the tournament.[13] Dementieva headed the Russian team, the other players being Kuznetsova, Chakvetadze and Kleybanova.[14] Russia crushed the Chinese, 5–0. The last rubber was the only one to be played in three sets.[15]

In the semifinals, Russia met Italy. The team was announced on 15 April; it consisted of Zvonareva, Kuznetsova, Petrova and Chakvetadze.[16] Zvonareva could not participate due to ankle injury. Debutants Pavlyuchenkova and Kleybanova were nominated as alternates for Zvonareva, as at most four players could be called.[17] One hour before the draw, the alternate was still not determined,[18] but Kleybanova has been eventually removed. Russia lost four out of five rubbers, with Kuznetsova winning the only rubber. Sports commentator Anna Dmitrieva said, that nominating Chakvetadze was an error.[19] Notwithstanding the loss, Russia stayed in the top rankings for now,[20] but after the Italians utter defeat of the Americans in the final, they replaced Russia from the throne.[21]

Team Russia in the upcoming match of the new season against Serbia was not made up of the leading tennis players Safina, Kuznetsova, Dementieva and Zvonareva, with the last two having injuries.[22] Tarpishchev announced the new team consisting of Kleybanova, Pavlyuchenkova, Dushevina and Makarova.[23] A few days before the start, Kuznetsova jumped in.[24] Team Russia consisting only of Kleybanova and Kuznetsova defeated Serbia in Belgrade, after coming back from 1–2.[25]

In April, Russia was to play against the United States. The fact that the match would be played in the United States introduced visa problems for the captain. Pavluychenkova, Zvonareva and Kleybanova could not participate due to injuries. Dementieva and Makarova were ready to play for the team.[26] Due to volcanic dust, the draw was expected to be moved two days later,[27] but the situation has been stabilized. In the deciding doubles rubber, Russia lost to the Americans, 2–3.[28]

2014–2015: New coaching staff

The 2014 season saw a major change in the team leadership. Tarpishchev as an IOC member assisted in the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, and so could not continue heading the Russian team. Anastasia Myskina was elected new captain of the Fed Cup team, after alternate Larisa Savchenko's Latvian citizenship became an obstacle.[29]

The new squad against Australia was announced on 30 January 2014. Those were Victoria Kan, Irina Khromacheva, Valeria Solovyeva and Veronika Kudermetova.[30] This decision was unexpected as all four players were outside the two hundreds ranked. Russia eventually lost in the quarterfinal, 4–0.

Sochi became the hosting city of the play-off game against Argentina. Most of the players of the previous team were replaced by Vesnina and Makarova, only Solovyeva was kept for the doubles rubber. Injured Sharapova and Zvonareva could not compete for Russia.[31][32] The Russians won in a straight 4–0, ensuring them a place in the World Group.

Defeating Argentina in the play-offs, Russia returned to the World Group in 2015. Team Russia, consisting of Kuznetsova, Sharapova and the doubles team Vitalia Diatchenko and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, faced the winner of the Fed Cup World Group Play-off Poland in the first round, and won 4–0. After losing three matches in a row, Poland decided to cancel the singles match, and played the dead rubber between Fed Cup debut Diatchenko and Pavlyuchenkova and doubles specialists Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska.

Russia's next opponent was Germany, who superseded team Russia in the world ranking after its first round win over Australia. Now Russia competed with Kuznetsova, Pavlyuchenkova and the duo Zvonareva / Vesnina, after Sharapova and Makarova decided not to participate in the semifinals. Sharapova cited her foot injury,[33] and Makarova was too exhausted and unready, according to Makarova's coach Manyukova.[34] Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova won the first two rubbers, but then Germany levelled after winning the other two matches in straight sets. In the deciding doubles match, where Pavlyuchenkova partnered with Vesnina, team Russia overcame the Germans and moved to the finals, which took place in the Czech Republic. There Sharapova won two matches against Kvitová and Plíšková, as against Pavlyuchenkova who lost both of her matches. The deciding doubles match Pavlyuchenkova/Vesnina against Strýcová/Plíšková ended in a three set loss. This is the third time the Russians lost to the Czechs in a Fed Cup final.

2016–: Out of World Group

In the 2016 season, the Russians consisting of Kuznetsova, Makarova and newcomer Daria Kasatkina surprisingly lost to the Dutch team, 3–1. Sharapova while being member of the team decided not to play for it. [35] The second rubber game, Kuznetsova against Hogenkamp, became the longest singles match in the history of the Fed Cup, lasting 4 hours and resulting 6–7(4–7), 7–5, 8–10.[36]

Captain Myskina after the unexpected loss put the youngsters Kasatkina, Gasparyan and Kulichkova forward against Belarus team.[37] Kasatkina won the first rubber against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, but the following three rubbers were lost. Vesnina and Kasatkina, who replaced Kulichkova, won the dead rubber. For the first time since 1999, Russia left the World Group.[38]

In the 2017 season, Russia was drawn against Chinese Taipei for the first time in the post-Soviet era (USSR team played against Chinese Taipei in 1985, 3:0). Captain Myskina called Ekaterina Makarova and three Fed Cub debuts Natalia Vikhlyantseva, Anna Blinkova and Anna Kalinskaya. Russia won 4–1. Russia, led by Vesnina, Pavlyuchenkova, Kasatkina and Blinkova,[39] were strong favorites playing at home in Moscow against Belgium in the play-offs as Belgium was without their leading ladies Yanina Wickmayer and Kirsten Flipkens. They however lost surprisingly 2-3 mainly due to a strong performance from Elise Mertens, the highest ranked Belgian at place 66.

Results

Tournament196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994W–L
Federation Cup
World Group QF A A A A A A A 1R A SF SF QF QF QF 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R F QF F 2R 2R A A 28–16
Europe/Africa Zone NH A PO SF 4–4
Consolation Rounds NH A A A A A NH A 1R A NH A A A A W A W F A A A A A A A NH 12–1
Win–Loss 2–1 0–0* 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 1–1 5–1 3–2 1–1 4–1 2–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–2 44–21
Tournament19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020W–L
Fed Cup
World Group A A A A F 8th F 1R SF W W 1R W W SF SF F SF F 1R F 1R A A A 31–15
World Group Play-offs/Qualifying Round A A A W A NH W W A A A W A A A A A A A W A L L A A W 6–2
World Group II A A A W A Not Held A A A A A A A A A A A A W L A A 2–1
World Group II Play-offs A A W A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A L W A 2–1
Europe/Africa Group I SF F W A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A W A 12–4
Win–Loss 2–2 3–2 5–0 2–0 2–1 1–2 4–1 1–1 2–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 4–0 1–0 53–23
Year End Ranking 5 6 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 8 11

* Soviet Union team failed to show up.

Longest winning streak

Year Competition Date Location Opponent Score Result
1997 Europe/Africa Zone, Group I 22 April Bari (ITA)  Greece 3–0 Won
Europe/Africa Zone, Group I 23 April  Bulgaria 2–1 Won
Europe/Africa Zone, Semifinals 25 April  Israel 2–1 Won
Europe/Africa Zone, Final 26 April  Belarus 3–0 Won
World Group II Play-off 12–13 July Seoul (KOR)  South Korea 4–1 Won
1998 World Group II 18–19 April Perth (AUS)  Australia 3–2 Won
World Group Play-off 25–26 July Moscow (RUS)  Germany 4–1 Won
1999 World Group, First Round 17–18 April  France 3–2 Won
World Group, Semifinals 24–25 July  Slovakia 3–2 Won
World Group, Final 18–19 September Stanford (United States)  United States 1–4 Lost

Finals: 11 (4 titles, 7 runners-up)

Outcome Year Venue Surface Team Opponents Opposing Team Score
Runner-up1988Flinders Park, Melbourne, Australia?Larisa Savchenko
Natalia Zvereva
 CzechoslovakiaJana Novotná
Jana Pospíšilová
Radka Zrubáková
Helena Suková
1–2
Runner-up1990Peachtree W.O.T., Atlanta, United StatesHardElena Brioukhovets
Natasha Zvereva
Larisa Savchenko
Leila Meskhi
 United StatesJennifer Capriati
Zina Garrison
Gigi Fernández
Patty Fendick
1–2
Runner-up1999Taube Tennis Stadium, Stanford, United StatesHardElena Makarova
Elena Likhovtseva
Elena Dementieva
 United StatesLindsay Davenport
Venus Williams
Serena Williams
Monica Seles
1–4
Runner-up2001Parque Ferial Juan Carlos 1, Madrid, SpainClay (i)Elena Likhovtseva
Elena Bovina
Elena Dementieva
Nadia Petrova
 BelgiumLaurence Courtois
Els Callens
Justine Henin
Kim Clijsters
1–2
Winner2004Ice Stadium Krylatskoe, Moscow, RussiaCarpet (i)Anastasia Myskina
Vera Zvonareva
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Elena Likhovtseva
 FranceNathalie Dechy
Tatiana Golovin
Émilie Loit
Marion Bartoli
3–2
Winner2005Court Philippe Chatrier, Paris, FranceClayElena Dementieva
Anastasia Myskina
Dinara Safina
Vera Dushevina
 FranceAmélie Mauresmo
Mary Pierce
Nathalie Dechy
Tatiana Golovin
3–2
Winner2007Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow, RussiaHard (i)Svetlana Kuznetsova
Anna Chakvetadze
Nadia Petrova
Elena Vesnina
 ItalyFrancesca Schiavone
Mara Santangelo
Roberta Vinci
Flavia Pennetta
4–0
Winner2008Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, SpainClaySvetlana Kuznetsova
Vera Zvonareva
Elena Vesnina
Ekaterina Makarova
 SpainAnabel Medina Garrigues
Carla Suárez Navarro
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Virginia Ruano Pascual
4–0
Runner-up2011Olympic Stadium, Moscow, RussiaHard (i)Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Maria Kirilenko
Elena Vesnina
 Czech RepublicPetra Kvitová
Lucie Šafářová
Lucie Hradecká
Květa Peschke
2–3
Runner-up2013Tennis Club Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyRed clayAlexandra Panova
Alisa Kleybanova
Irina Khromacheva
Margarita Gasparyan
 ItalySara Errani
Roberta Vinci
Flavia Pennetta
Karin Knapp
4–0
Runner-up2015O2 Arena, Prague, Czech RepublicHard (i)Maria Sharapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Elena Vesnina
 Czech RepublicPetra Kvitová
Karolína Plíšková
Barbora Strýcová
2–3

Awards

  • The Russian Cup in the nomination Team of the Year (2004, 2005, 2008, 2015)

See also

References

  1. Шарапова вошла в состав сборной на матч Кубка Федерации
  2. FedCup. Шарапова дебютирует, а Дэвенпорт возвращается
  3. Кузнецова попросила Тарпищева не вызывать на матч с Израилем
  4. Шарапова, Чакветадзе, Сафина, Лиховцева, Веснина — в сборной
  5. Россия увеличила отрыв от преследователей в Кубке Федерации
  6. В отсутствие Шараповой сборную России поведёт Кузнецова
  7. Сборная США приедет в Москву без Дэвенпорт и сестёр Уильямс
  8. После парного матча счёт в полуфинале Россия — США стал 3:2
  9. Тарпищев: Дементьеву и Сафину мы решили не дёргать
  10. Веснина и Макарова оформили разгром испанок в финале КФ
  11. Суарес-Наварро: Россия — королева женского тенниса
  12. Клейбанова: я заслуженно победила Иванович
  13. Звонарёва: решили, что первый матч сборной я пропущу
  14. Дементьева возглавит сборную России в матче с Китаем
  15. Кузнецова / Дементьева оформили разгром сборной Китая — 5:0
  16. В Италию поедут Звонарёва, Кузнецова, Петрова и Чакветадзе
  17. Звонарёву заменит Клейбанова или Павлюченкова
  18. Клейбанова: готова к любому решению капитана
  19. Дмитриева: выбор Чакветадзе был большой неудачей
  20. Сборная России осталась на вершине рейтинга Кубка Федерации
  21. Италия обогнала Россию и стала первой в рейтинге Fed Cup
  22. Россия осталась без ведущих теннисисток на Кубке Федерации
  23. Тарпищев определился с составом сборной на матч КФ с Сербией
  24. Кузнецова сыграет со сборной Сербии в КФ
  25. Россия в пятой встрече добыла путёвку в полуфинал Fed Cup
  26. Тарпищев: Дементьева сразу согласилась участвовать
  27. Тарпищев: перенос матча для нас ещё хуже
  28. Российская сборная не сумела выйти в финал Кубка Федерации
  29. Мыскина будет капитаном сборной России в матче КФ с Австралией
  30. Кан, Хромачёва, Соловьёва и Кудерметова сыграют с Австралией в Кубке Федерации
  31. Мыскина: Шарапова не сыграет за Россию в матче Кубка Федерации с Аргентиной
  32. Звонарёва не сыграет с Аргентиной в Кубке Федерации из-за рецидива травмы
  33. Шарапова: я не успела восстановиться к полуфиналу КФ после травмы ноги
  34. Мыскина: Павлюченкова сказала, что ей вырвали зуб мудрости и начались осложнения
  35. "Шарапова: надеюсь, нашим девушкам по силам справиться без моей помощи" [Sharapova: I hope our girls will manage it without my help] (in Russian). Championat.com. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  36. Erik Gudris (6 February 2016). "Hogenkamp Wins Longest Ever Fed Cup Match Over Kuznetsova". Tennisnow.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  37. "Мыскина: Гаспарян и Касаткина выдвигаются на первые роли в сборной России" [Myskina: Gasparyan and Kasatkina are promoted for the first places in the Russian team] (in Russian). Championat.com. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  38. Belarus scale new heights after win in Moscow
  39. Веснина, Павлюченкова, Касаткина и Блинкова сыграют с Бельгией в Кубке Федерации
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