USA feel blessed after surviving Latvia scare
Everett (USA), February 9
The United States survived a fright from little Latvia on Saturday before winning 3-2 in a Fed Cup qualifier as Serena Williams suffered her first career singles loss in the team event.
The United States seemed poised to advance to the finals after taking a 2-0 lead on Friday as Williams and Sophia Kenin won their respective singles matches in Everett, Washington. But Jelena Ostapenko gave plucky Latvia a lifeline by beating newly crowned Australian Open champion Kenin 6-3 2-6 6-2 on Saturday. A Latvia comeback loomed when world No. 41 Sevastova edged Williams 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(4) in a 3-set thriller in the fourth rubber to even the tie at 2-2.
Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Slovakia, Germany, Russia and Belarus also moved through to the inaugural 12-nation showdown in Budapest. They will join France, Australia, Czech Republic and hosts Hungary in the revamped finals in April.
Earlier, Canadian teenager Leylah Annie Fernandez caused a huge shock when she beat Swiss world No. 5 Belinda Bencic in Biel but it proved in vain as Switzerland progressed. A weakened Canada, without US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and Eugenie Bouchard for the singles, had trailed 2-0 after Friday’s action.
Spain raced into the Fed Cup Finals as Carla Suarez Navarro claimed the winning point at La Manga Club against Japan. The five-time winners led 2-0 overnight and the 31-year-old Suarez Navarro wasted little time finishing off Japan as she swept past Kurumi Nara 6-1 6-3 on the outdoor claycourt. Nara, ranked 137 by the WTA, was a late stand-in as Japan’s No. 1 Naomi Osaka did not take to the court after her dismal defeat by Sara Sorribes Tormo on Friday. — Reuters
