Canada Falls To Slovenia At Fed Cup By BNP Paribas

Written by: Staff on 17th April 2011

Canada Falls To Slovenia At Fed Cup By BNP Paribas

epa02692321 Switzerland's Patty Schnyder returns a ballt to Sweden's Johanna Larsson, during their singles match of the Tennis Fed Cup World Group II Playoffs between Switzerland and Sweden in Lugano, Switzerland, Saturday, April 17, 2011. EPA/KARL MATHIS |

Slovenia defeated Canada in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II play- off tie on Sunday after world No. 4 doubles player Katarina Srebotnik and No. 68 Polona Hercog defeated the doubles team of Sharon Fichman (Toronto) and Rebecca Marino (Vancouver) in the fifth and deciding rubber 7- 6(5), 6-2. Marino (Vancouver) and Eugenie Bouchard (Westmount, Quebec) split the first two singles matches of the day.

Canada’s No. 1 singles player Marino started the day off and delivered a gritty performance against Slovenian No. 1 Hercog but was unable to pull it out, falling 5-7, 6-2, 8-6 to give Slovenia a 2-1 lead in the tie. Marino, world No. 61, came out really strong, holding serve all the way to 6-5 when she broke her opponent to take the set. However, she lost focus in the second set and was broken twice early to let Hercog back into the match. Marino got back on track in the third, holding serve until 6-6 when Hercog got the break she was looking for and served out the match.

“It was so close today and it came down to a few points here and there in the third set,” said Marino. “She just hit some incredible shots that were too good. I wish I had carried more momentum into the second set after winning the first but I’m happy that I was able to fight back in the third. Obviously I wanted to put us in a position to win but every Fed Cup match I play, I gain more and more experience and I will learn from this and use it the next time.”

At just 17 years old and in her first Fed Cup tie for Canada, Bouchard faced immense pressure in having to win to keep her team in the running. She went out against Slovenian No. 2 Masa Zec-Peskiric and dominated with a 6-4, 6-1 win. Zec-Peskiric only held her serve once through the whole match while Bouchard started to find more confidence on her service games to take control of the match in the second set and force the deciding doubles match.

“I’m really excited that I was able to be the one to push the tie into the deciding doubles match,” said Bouchard. “I knew that I could come out and play much better than I did yesterday so I’m really happy that I was given the chance. This is my first time on the Fed Cup team and I’m really grateful for the experience and the opportunity to represent my country. I hope I will be a part of the team for a long time.”

It was then up to doubles team Fichman and Marino to get Canada the win. Playing together for the first time, the duo were up against tough opponents and came out very strong, gaining two set points up 5-3 in the first set. However, the doubles experience and prowess of the Slovenian team members was too much to overcome and for the second time this year (vs. Serbia in February), Canada goes the distance but fails to advance in the deciding match.

Canada will now move down to the Americas Zone Group I for 2012 and will play the zonal tie in February of next year.