The Netherlands stuns Russia, as Kiki Bertens defeats Svetlana Kuznetsova to complete the shock victory, sending last year's finalists out in the first round of Fed Cup. Bertens sealed the deal for the Netherlands with a 6-1, 6-4 win over two time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Bertens Stuns Russia, Kuznetsova
Kiki Bertens sealed the deal for the Netherlands, with a 6-1, 6-4 upset win over Svetlana Kuznetsova. Yesterday, Kuznetsova had played a marathon four hour match, a three set loss to Richel Hogenkamp, but the Russian said she did not feel too tired after the previous days' loss. Bertens' tactics were clear for all to see, with the Dutch women taking every chance she could to move the veteran Russian around.
“Normally that is my game, but sometimes I make a few more mistakes, but I think I was playing good and aggressive and was using my forehand well and trying to move her around. I also had in my mind that yesterday she played a four hour match, so even if this was to go into a third [set] I would still be feeling good,” Bertens added.
Bertens breezed through the first set only dropping a game, taking it 6-1. In the second, Kuznetsova began to fight back, but the Dutch women was too much, Bertens sending the Russians packing, sealing a 3-0 win for the visitors.
Bertens played an incredible match, serving brilliantly throughout, cracking seven aces and winning 78 percent of first serve points. Bertens won a spectacular 69 percent of second serve points, one of the key stats in the Dutch women's win. Bertens is now 13-1 and lifetime in Fed Cup, showing Bertens' love for representing her country.
Bertens Discusses The Win
“This is unbelievable. I don’t think anyone expected that we could win this tie, perhaps we even didn’t. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said a jubilant Bertens after the match.
“We are now among the last four countries in the Fed Cup, so it’s just unbelievable," said Bertens. "We perhaps don’t realize it yet. We have a few more months to realize it, and in April we are going to fight again for a place in the final."
Doubles Rubber
Due to Fed Cup rules, a fourth doubles rubber was contested between Russians Daria Kasatkina and Ekaterina Makarova and Dutch women Cindy Burger and Aranxta Rus. Kasatkina and Makarova won the dead rubber 6-0, 6-2, to put the final tie score at 3-1 for the Netherlands.
The Netherlands' Fed Cup Future
With the Netherlands 3-1 upset victory over Russia, the Dutch team will go on to the World Group semifinals in April against France. This win is the Netherlands' eighth consecutive tie win, a credit to Dutch Fed Cup captain Paul Haarhuis' brilliant job brining a team with no players inside the world's top 100 to the Fed Cup World Group Semifinals.