Daria Kasatkina gave Russia a 1-0 lead over Switzerland in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup on Saturday with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Jil Teichmann.
The Russians are just one win away from their fifth title in the competition formerly known as the Fed Cup. Switzerland has yet to win the trophy.
Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova will face Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic in the second singles match, ahead of the doubles.
In a dominant display, Kasatkina blasted a forehand winner to earn a break point in the seventh game of the second set that she converted for a 4-3 lead.
She was not able to hold her serve in the following game but got another break for 5-4 before serving the match out on her first match point.
The Russian stormed the opening set, breaking Teichmann three times and dropping her serve once.
Daria Kasatkina gave Russia a 1-0 lead over Switzerland in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup on Saturday with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Jil Teichmann.
The Russians are just one win away from their fifth title in the competition formerly known as the Fed Cup. Switzerland has yet to win the trophy.
Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova will face Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic in the second singles match, ahead of the doubles.
In a dominant display, Kasatkina blasted a forehand winner to earn a break point in the seventh game of the second set that she converted for a 4-3 lead. She was not able to hold her serve in the following game but got another break for 5-4 before serving the match out on her first match point.
Russia reached its first final since 2015 in the competition they won in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
The Swiss reached their first final since finishing runner-up in 1998, their only final appearance
The 12 teams in the finals were divided into four groups of three teams. Only the group winners advanced to Friday’s semifinals.
Russia dominated Group A in the tournament after victories over defending champion France and Canada before eliminating the United States in the semifinal.
The U.S. is the most successful nation in the competition with 18 trophies.
Switzerland advanced to the semis from Group D, considered the toughest in the tournament, defeating both the Czech Republic and Germany on the way.
In the semis, the Swiss swept Australia 2-0, winning both singles matches.
Source: Bahrain News Agency