Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / TENNIS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Tennis Contents:  Live scores | Results | Skills | Rules and Equipment | Get Involved

Saturday, 2 February 2008, 15:37 GMT

Sharapova wins on Fed Cup debut

Maria Sharapova Russia's Maria Sharapova made a winning start to her Fed Cup career with a convincing 6-0 6-4 quarter-final victory over Israel's Tzipi Obziler.

The Australian Open champion outclassed the world number 81 to level the tie at 1-1 in Tel Aviv.

Sharapova, who needed just 28 minutes to win the first set, dropped serve when 5-2 up in the second but she was never really in trouble.

The 20-year-old will next play Shahar Peer on Sunday in the reverse singles.

"It was very weird to come on court being down one love," said Sharapova.

"Usually when I play a match both players start the match at the same level, so this was different but I'm glad it's over and I can't wait for the match versus Shahar."

Earlier on Saturday, Peer had completed an amazing fight back to defeat Dinara Safina 0-6 6-2 6-2.

Sharapova, who has lived in Florida since she was nine years old, has been criticised in the past for not taking part in the Fed Cup.

Russia have been the competition's most consistent team in recent years, winning the trophy on three of the last four occasions.

Israel have lost their previous two encounters against Russia but have won their last 10 Fed Cup ties, with last year's victories over Canada and Austria securing a first-round spot.

The other quarter-finals see the USA, including Lindsay Davenport, host Germany, France travel to China, and Spain away in Italy.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Row over Sharapova's Fed Cup show (17 Sep 07 |  Tennis )
Kuznetsova wraps up Fed Cup win (15 Sep 07 |  Tennis )
Russia drop Sharapova for Fed Cup (18 Jul 07 |  Tennis )
Sharapova pull-out angers Russia (10 Jul 07 |  Tennis )
Sharapova to miss Fed Cup debut (02 Apr 07 |  Tennis )
From Russia - no love (23 Aug 05 |  Tennis )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Latest tennis talk on 606
Tennis on the BBC
Tennis tips and tricks
Download our tennis masks
Maria Sharapova
Fed Cup
Sony Ericsson WTA
ITF
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Tennis Contents:  Live scores | Results | Skills | Rules and Equipment | Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©