Russia faces the Netherlands in the first round of the Fed Cup World Group at Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Russia and the Netherlands have met three times, with Russia winning all three ties. The last tie between the two came in 1990, with the then, Soviet Union, winning 2-1, over the Dutch team. The tie will feature Ekaterina Makarova and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the singles for the Russians and Maria Sharapova and rising star Daria Kasatkina in the doubles. For the Netherlands, Kiki Bertens and Richel Hogenkamp will feature in the singles with Cindy Burger and Aranxta Rus in the doubles. The winner of this World Group first round tie will face either France or Italy in the world group semifinals in April.
The Russian Squad
Last year's Fed Cup finalists will field a heavy team for this important World Group first round tie. Russian Fed Cup captain Anastasia Myskina fields three of Russia's best players, along with the rising star of Russian tennis, Daria Kasatkina. Makarova, who will be playing the first singles match against Kiki Bertens, started her 2016 well, with a quarterfinal showing in Sydney and a round of sixteen performance in Melbourne, narrowly losing out to unseeded Brit Johanna Konta 8-6 in the third. Kuznetsova, who will be playing the second singles match, won the title in Sydney, but had a disappointing performance in Melbourne, crashing out in the second round to Ukranian Kateryna Bondarenko in straight sets. Sharapova, who will be playing the fifth and deciding doubles rubber, is not in the singles, due to a left forearm injury she has been nursing since the end of 2015. Sharapova and Kasatkina have never played doubles together, as the Russian number one plays doubles very rarely. Kasatkina has had a blistering start to 2016, defeating Venus Williams in her first match in Auckland, and made an impressive third round showing in Melbourne, before losing out to eventual finalist, Serena Williams.
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The Dutch Squad
Dutch Fed Cup captain, Paul Haarhuis, has fielded the Netherlands' four best players for this tie. Kiki Bertens, who will face off against Ekaterina Makarova in the first rubber, has had a good start to 2016, making the quarterfinals in Hobart. Richel Hogenkamp, who will play in the second singles rubber, has not played a main draw match in 2016, losing in qualifying in Auckland, Hobart, and at the Australian Open. Burger, nor Rus have either played a WTA main draw match this year.
What To Expect
In the first match, Makarova opens up as a heavy favorite against Bertens. Makarova should sail through, putting the hosts up 1-0. With Kuznetsova's experience, expect the Russian to cruise past Richel Hogenkamp, putting the Russians up 2-0. In the reverse singles, expect Kuznetsova to defeat Bertens, handing Russia the 3 wins neccessary to win the tie. Expect Russia's depth and experience to power through, putting them into the semifinals later in the year.