MOSCOW – World number three Vera Zvonareva put Russia 1-0 up against Italy in their Fed Cup semi-final clash here Saturday, beating Sara Errani 6-0, 6-2. The 26-year-old Zvonareva notched her fourth win over Errani in as many meetings, winning in 56 minutes on the hardcourts of Moscow’s Megasport indoor arena.
Last year’s Wimbledon and US Open runner-up looked in complete command from the start breaking her opponent’s serve three times to take the opening set at love in just 25 minutes. In the second set Errani fought back hard but failed to save the match as Zvonareva produced two more breaks to underline her domination and to win the set and the match.
The rubber between two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Italy’s Roberta Vinci will complete Sunday’s schedule of the semi-final tie. The reverse singles and the doubles clash will complete the match programme on Sunday.
