Fed Cup Hobart – Australia vs Italy 1-1

Written by: Staff on 6th February 2011

Fed Cup Hobart – Australia vs Italy 1-1

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) |

World No.5 Sam Stosur was defeated by Flavia Pennetta in the second of today’s two singles rubbers at the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart.

Despite winning her first ever set against the world No.16, Stosur lost 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 4-6, giving Pennetta a 4-0 lead in their head-to-head matches.

Post-match, Stosur said she was disappointed.

“I think any time you serve for the first two sets of the match and you end up losing it is a little disappointing. I wanted to get a better result against her [Pennetta] today and it was better on the scoreboard but still not a win.’

The world No.16 said it was a difficult match.

“This match was really tough for both of us. I think everything was decided between one or two points and so close. We both fight really hard. We both want to win this point because it was really important for the team,” Pennetta said.

“She [Stosur] had a few chances in the first set and the second set but I was playing really well in those moments also. In the third set I had more chances than she had.”

The match marked the first time in Fed Cup history that Italy has won a rubber against Australia after 16 consecutive losses, including Jarmila Groth’s victory at the start of the day.

In her Fed Cup by BNP Paribas tie debut, Groth defeated world No.4 Francesca Schiavone 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3.

At the end of the day Fed Cup Captain David Taylor said “what an unbelievable debut for Jarmila to play Fed Cup for your country first time and beat the No.4 in the world and have a career-best win. So from that perspective it was fantastic for our team and Sam played a girl that she hadn’t previously won a set from and she ended up serving for two sets and eventually lost a very close match so I am very proud of both of my girls and the way that they fought hard today. I think if they can fight like that tomorrow then they can win.”

Tomorrow will see the replay of the 2010 French Open final when world No.5 Stosur and No.4 Schiavone take to the court followed by the second reverse singles rubber and the doubles.

Rodionova (No.64) and Rennae Stubbs (No.11 in doubles) were named as the doubles pairing against Roberta Vinci (No.38) and Sara Errani (No.44).

This is the sixth time the two countries have played in a Fed Cup tie, with Australia currently leading 5-0 in their head-to-head encounters.

Italy has been Fed Cup champions in 2006, 2009 and 2010 and has won seven out of its past eight away ties since the last time the two nations met in the 1988 World Group second round.

Australia and Italy are two of just four nations to have competed in every Fed Cup.

This is the Australian Fed Cup team’s first World Group tie since 2004.

Topics: Flavia Pennetta, Sam Stosur