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Serbia set up Fed Cup semis clash with Russia

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Associated Press

Last Updated: February 06, 2012, 15:15 IST

Serbia set up Fed Cup semis clash with Russia

Serbia beat Belgium to set up the Fed Cup semifinal clash with Russia, who saw off Spain.

Charleroi, Serbia: Serbia relied on their second-string players to come from behind Sunday to beat Belgium 3-2 and reach the semifinals of the Fed Cup. They will now play Russia.

Facing elimination, Bojana Jovanovski pulled Serbia back in the match by beating Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-4 to level the score at 2-2.

Jovanovski then lined up with Aleksandra Krunic to beat Yanina Wickmayer and Alison Van Uytvanck in the deciding doubles, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-1.

Serbia were without Ana Ivanovic coming into the Spiroudome this weekend and lost former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic with a left thigh injury after Saturday's opening singles.

Despite two players ranked outside the top 100, Serbia overcame Belgium's home crowd advantage.

Earlier, Russia advanced to the semifinals with a 3-2 win over Spain in the first-round series.

Svetlana Kuznetsova secured the host an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Spain, beating Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second reverse singles.

Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova easily won their opening singles on Saturday, but Carla Suarez Navarro narrowed the gap, routing Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-3 in the first reverse singles on a hardcourt at the Olympic indoor stadium.

The Spanish pair of Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja set the final score at 3-2 for Russia when, a set down, the Russian duo of Kuznetsova and Petrova retired in the doubles match because of Kuznetsova's fatigue.

first published:February 06, 2012, 15:15 IST
last updated:February 06, 2012, 15:15 IST