Canada and Ukraine Tied 1-1 at Fed Cup

Written by: Staff on 20th April 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Florida

Canada and Ukraine Tied 1-1 at Fed Cup

epa03637132 Eugenie Bouchard of Canada returns the ball against Maria Sharapova of Russia during their match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 22 March 2013. EPA/RHONA WISE |

Kiev, Ukraine, April 20, 2013 – Saturday concludes the first day of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II play-off tie between Canada and Ukraine. The tie is contested indoors on clay at the Sport Club Meridian in Kiev, Ukraine from April 20-21, 2013.

In the first rubber, Elina Svitolina defeated Eugenie Bouchard 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-2 to earn the first point of the Canada vs. Ukraine World Group II play-off in Kiev. After playing some inspired tennis to take a tough opening set in a long tiebreak, Bouchard rolled her ankle badly at the start of the second set. The 19-year-old played on despite the pain, but was unable to come away with the win.

“I want to play tomorrow. I am going to rest tonight and do everything I can to be ready. I hardly ever retire. My movement wasn’t as good after getting treated, but I wanted to keep fighting. I am representing my country and my team, it is a very important weekend for us.”

In the second rubber, Sharon Fichman posted an impressive 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3 victory over world no. 71 Lesia Tsurenko to level the tie.

“I knew both matches were going to be difficult and they were. Tomorrow is going to be another tough day but we will be ready to go. It’s 1-1 so anything is possible,” said Miele Canadian Fed Cup team captain Sylvain Bruneau.

Fichman showed her trademark fighting spirit throughout the match, often frustrating her opponent with her defensive abilities and choosing her moments to be aggressive. The 22-year-old Canadian broke Tsurenko’s serve five times in the third set alone.

“It’s a good feeling to get us on the scoreboard. I couldn’t worry about the first match, i just had to focus on doing my job. I’m happy that I played good tennis and that we are in a good position to win tomorrow,” said Fichman.

The two reverse singles matches and the doubles rubber will be played on Sunday beginning at 5 am ET. The matches will be streamed live on www.sportsnet.ca.

Here are Sunday’s match-ups:

3rd Singles Rubber

Sunday, April 21, 2013

5:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. local

Eugenie Bouchard

Lesia Tsurenko

4th Singles Rubber,

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sharon Fichman

Elina Svitolina

Doubles Rubber

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Yuliya Beygelzimer

Kateryna Kozlova

Gabriela Dabrowski

Sharon Fichman

In February, Canada won all four of their ties to finish first in the Americas Zone Group I event in Medellin, Colombia and earn a place in the World Group II play-offs against Ukraine. The winner of the best-of-five tie will be one of eight teams to qualify for World Group II in 2014. Canada last competed in World Group II in 2011.

Topics: BNP Paribas World Group Semifinal, Canada tennis news, Elina Svitolina, Eugenie Bouchard, Fed Cup, Lesia Tsurenko, Sharon Fichman, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Ukraine tennis news