Fed Cup Shock today in Russia and Maria Sharapova could soon be forced to change her plans. The favourite Russian team trails back 0-2 after the first day of competition to the Netherlands.
Kiki Bertens and Richel Hogenkamp played two incredible matches to turn the tables around and shock the home team, defeating Ekaterina Makarova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
First on court was World No.106 Bertens who shocked World No.31 Ekaterina Makarova playing superb attacking tennis to clinch the win by 6-3 6-4. Makarova started the match better, breaking in the first game, giving the illusion the match would soon follow in its predicted path. Makarova’s relaxation lasted just that game, soon after Bertens broke back and then broke again to lead 4-2. Serving for the set at 5-3, the Dutch saves two break points and wins after 34 minutes by 6-3. Makarova in the first set only had 2 winners to her name, compared to a total of 16 unforced errors.
The second set sees the surprise factor fade away, as the two players engage in a battle. Bertens breaks first this time, to take a 3-2 lead after Makarova wastes 2 game points up 40-15. Kiki continues to believe and manages to close out the contest, winning 6 games to 4, hardly being ever challenged again on her serve.
The surprise of the day wears the name of Richel Hogenkamp. The World No.141 stuns World No.17 and 2-time Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova after the longest match ever played in Fed Cup. The Dutch won by 7-6(4) 5-7 10-8 after exactly 4 hours. For the 23-year-old is the best career win, a shocker for the Russian team. Richel also saved a math point in the third set.
The Netherlands lead 2-0 in Moscow, and now Maria could see her not-playing weekend turn out to become a quest for salvation.
