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China survive scare to reach the Fed Cup semis

France's Virginie Razzano hits a backhand return against China's Li Na during their Federations Cup singles match in Beijing yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

China beat France 3-2 in a Fed Cup World Group nailbiter yesterday, moving into the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time.

The result will boost home hopes for the Summer Olympics, but China definitely did it the hard way against an under-strength French team.

China needed just one more win yesterday to move into the final Fed Cup four after pulling ahead in the tie 2-0 on Saturday with two singles victories.

But without their No. 2 player Peng Shuai, who had left the country to play in Europe after her singles win on Saturday, they hit trouble when top-ranked Li Na lost to the powerful French baseliner Virginie Razzano.

Then doubles specialist Yan Zi, filling in for Peng, lost to Nathalie Dechy 6-3, 6-2 in the second singles match yesterday and suddenly the match was level 2-2 with only the doubles rubber to play.

In the decider, China fielded the 2006 Wimbledon champions Yan and Zheng Jie, back from last season's injury.

The pair won 7-5, 7-6, clinching the tie-breaker 7-5 against Dechy and Razzano, making a rare appearance in the doubles discipline for the French.

In the absence of Peng, doubles specialist Yan stepped in for China in the second singles match yesterday, while France brought in Dechy in place of Cornet.

Dechy proved too strong for Yan, beating her 6-3, 6-2.

The two lined up opposite each other again for the decisive doubles rubber, with Dechy partnered by Razzano and Zheng joining Yan.

The rubber was finely balanced but the match tilted towards China thanks to Zheng, the only player on court with fresh legs.

■ JAPAN 4, CROATIA 1

AFP, MIKI, JAPAN

Japan secured a berth in a play-off for a spot in the elite Fed Cup tennis World Group when they defeated Croatia 4-1 in their first round tie yesterday.

Akiko Morigami, who struggled to beat Nika Ozegovic in the opening singles match on Saturday, had a much easier time yesterday against Jelena Kostanic Tosic, coasting to a 6-1, 6-2 win to put Japan ahead 2-1.

Aiko Nakamura, ranked 105th in the world, then redeemed herself after a loss in her opening singles match, defeating Ozegovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 to clinch a victory for Japan.

Ayumi Morita teamed up with Rika Fujiwara to beat Petra Martic and Ana Vrljic in the dead doubles rubber 6-2, 6-3 to complete the scoring.

"I'm really happy that I played really well and I think it went the way I want, so I'm really glad," said Morigami, who posted her first WTA singles title at Prague last season. "Even though I was up 6-2 and 2-0, I just tried to focus on each point, I tried not to think about anything. Even if I was up, I knew she's gonna fight it over again, so I tried to focus on myself."

Morigami, who converted three out of four break opportunities, never hesitated throughout the match which ended in 1 hour, 14 minutes.

"I tried to be aggressive on my serve. Even if I had two double faults [at the end of the match], I didn't care a lot," Morigami said. "It just came up to two double faults, but it was OK, I was already up two breaks, so I told myself to be aggressive next game."

Japan will now enter a playoff tie against one of the first round losers in the eight-team World Group on April 26 and April 27, to decide who will compete in the elite competition next year.

■ RUSSIA 3, ISRAEL 1

AFP, JERUSALEM

Maria Sharapova helped fire defending champions Russia into an unassailable 3-1 lead over Israel in their Fed Cup World Group quarter-final clash yesterday.

With the nations tied 1-1 going into yesterday's matches, Sharapova proved fearless in her battle with Shahar Peer as the No. 1's went head-to-head in the reverse singles.

The Russian routed Peer, who had been undefeated in 11 Fed Cup singles matches, 6-1, 6-1.

In the second singles rubber, world No. 7 Anna Chakvetadze sealed the winning point for the defending champions, defeating Tzipi Obziler 6-4, 6-2 to ensure her country gets another chance at winning the Fed Cup title.
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