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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 SPORTS Sharapova powers Russia into Fed Cup semi-finals KRAKOW: Former world number one Maria Sharapova sent Russia into the semi-finals of the Fed Cup yesterday as she defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her coun- try an unassailable 3-0 lead. Following Sharapova’s victory over sister Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, com- bined with a three set win for veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova over Agnieszka, Russia are safely into the last four. In front of a partisan home crowd of some 15,000, Sharapova, who recently lost the Australian Open final against Serena Williams, improved her record against the world number eight to 12 wins against just two defeats. Agnieszka saved two match points at 2-5 down in the second set to draw level at 5-5 but ran out of steam as five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova closed out the match in 1hr 46mins. On Saturday, Sharapova beat Urszula Radwanska 6-0, 6-3 as Russia took a 2-0 lead over Poland in the Fed Cup World Group with the superstar taking a first step towards the Rio Olympics. Svetlana Kuznetsova earlier saw off Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the tie at Krakow. French Open champion Sharapova is playing just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut but in order to make the Olympics next year all players have to make themselves available for the annual women’s team tournament. The world number two’s win was also a perfect tonic, coming a week after her defeat to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final. Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam champi- on, had already beaten the elder Radwanska sis- ter in 10 of their 14 meetings. Playing her 17th Fed Cup tie, Kuznetsova took victory with an ace on her first match point after two hours and 17 minutes. “It was important to start strong. I had a little bit of a letdown in the second set and she got a bit steadier,” said Sharapova after hitting 30 winners in her 80-minute win. “I’m happy to get through in straight sets.” ITALY: Cagliari’s midfielder Mpoku controls the ball in front of Roma’s midfielder In Genoa, 2013 champions Italy lead France from Mali Seydou Keita (back) during the Italian Serie A football match. — AFP 2-0. Sara Errani defeated Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 to give Italy the lead. Camila Giorgi, the Roma end run of draws world number 31, then made it 2-0 with a 6-4, 6- 2 win over Alize Cornet, ranked 19th. KRAKOW: Maria Sharapova of Russia returns a ball to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during With their four Fed Cup crowns (2006, 2009, the Fed Cup World Group first round tennis match. — AP ROME: A late strike by Leandro Paredes that has enjoyed a minor resurgence under 2010, 2013), Italy, who are unbeaten at home ended Roma’s run of four successive league the guidance of Gianfranco Zola. since 2008, are firm favorites to make the semi- tions. Fifty percent of the time I had goose- Eugenie Bouchard opted not to play. draws to reduce the gap on leaders Captain Francesco Totti shook off ‘flu finals. In Stuttgart, Australia got off to a good bumps because of the atmosphere.” Smitkova, ranked 62nd, downed Canada’s Juventus to seven points and keep Rudi symptoms to spearhead a three-pronged start against Germany as world number 54 The winners of the tie will face either Russia 185th-ranked Gabriela Dabrowski 6-1, 6-2 in Garcia’s men in the Serie A title hunt yester- attack with 18-year-old Daniele Verde to his Jarmila Gajdosova beat 10th-ranked Angelique or Poland for a place in the final. Italy or France only 59 minutes. day. Elsewhere, Napoli tightened their grip right and Adem Ljajic out on the left. Kerber 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. will face either the champions Czech Republic or In World Group II, meanwhile, the United on third place with a dominant 3-1 home Cagliari had the brighter start and Roma But the hosts levelled when Andrea Petkovic Canada, who are meeting in Quebec. States, a record 17-time champions, eased to a 2- win over Udinese at the San Paolo where ‘keeper Morgan De Sanctis had to use his triumphed in a three-hour marathon with Despite missing Wimbledon champion Petra 0 lead over Argentina in Buenos Aires thanks to Dries Mertens opened the scoring and legs to save from Duje Cop at the near post. Samantha Stosur, winning 6-4, 3-6, 12-10. Kvitova, the Czechs went 2-0 up when Karolina the Williams sisters. prompted an own goal by Frenchman Verde, however, made the most of his “That is definitely one of the highlights of my Pliskova and Tereza Smitkova won their openers. Venus got things underway with a 6-3, 6-2 Cryril Thereau in the second half. Serie A debut for the Giallorossi and was career which I will keep in my mind,” said Pliskova, the world number 22, eased past win over Paula Ormaechea before world number Samuel Eto’o came off the bench for Roma’s most dangerous player in the open- Petkovic, a 2014 French Open semi-finalist. “I 230th-ranked Francoise Abanda 6-2, 6-4 who one Serena defeated Maria Irigoyen, a lowly 197 Sampdoria in Genoa but failed to make the ing half. spent half of the time trying to control my emo- was drafted into the squad when top 10 star in the rankings, 7-5, 6-0. — AFP difference as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men saw He first hit the side-netting from a their push for a Champions League place Seydou Keita assist before sending a lob stall after being held 1-1 by Sassuolo. into the path of Ljajic for the Bosnian to Juventus sit top on 53 points, with Roma beat Zeljko Brkic in the 18th minute. Bremen shock Bayer second on 46. Napoli are a further four Roma survived a second-half onslaught points adrfit in third and Fiorentina, who by Cagliari before virtually sealing the dominated a five-goal thriller with Atalanta points when Paredes fired a superb first- BERLIN: Werder Bremen’s meteoric rise up the matches having been thrashed 4-1 at Wolfsburg their 2-0 win at ten-man Mainz 05. earlier, moved up to fourth on 35 points. timer from the edge of the area to beat Bundesliga table continued yesterday as their 2- just over a week ago. Arjen Robben scored his With Hungary national team coach Pal Sampdoria are fifth, also on 35 points, Zeljko at the keeper’s far post. 1 win over Bayer Leverkusen means they have second goal in as many games just before half- Dardai now at the helm, the visitors took the while Lazio, in sixth, can move up to fourth Cagliari reduced arrears in the fifth gone from 18th to eighth in just four games. time break before David Alaba then drilled lead when Jens Hegler converted a 35th-minute if they account for Genoa today. minute of injury time when Paul-Jose Leverkusen, who face last year’s beaten final- home a superb free-kick with 50 minutes gone. penalty on 43 minutes before Roy Beerens slot- Juventus had taken their lead over M’Poku rose to send a looping header over ists Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Bayern stay eight points clear of second- ted their second. Hamburg continued their Roma to 10 points on Saturday with a com- De Sanctis. Champions League, found themselves 2-0 down placed Wolfsburg, who gave Germany winger march up the table to go 11th after their second manding 3-1 win over Milan in Turin, where However the Sardinians’ 11th reverse of with half an hour gone as hosts Bremen pro- Andre Schuerrle his debut after his move from consecutive victory with a 2-1 win at home to Carlos Tevez took his league-leading goals the campaign means they remain just one duced some dazzling first-half football. Chelsea in a 3-0 win at home to Hoffenheim. Hanover 96, who are winless in their last four tally to 14 for the season. place and one point above the drop zone. A superb lofted cross from attacking mid- Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne claimed games. Paderborn dropped to just above the Roma’s title push stalled due to four Inter Milan, who are 13th on 27 points fielder Fin Bartels allowed 20-year-old striker two goals in an impressive display. Hertha Berlin relegation spots after their goalless draw at consecutive league draws and with several off the pace, host in-form Palermo in Davie Selke to put Bremen ahead with 17 min- bounced back from the sacking of coach Jos Cologne while Schalke 04 went third on Friday key players missing, their trip to Sardinia Sunday’s late game looking to rescue their utes gone. Bremen’s Austrian midfielder Zlatko Luhukay on Thursday with a slick performance with a 1-0 home win against Borussia was set to be anything but plain sailing. disastrous season. Junuzovic then drilled home a stunning free kick which lifted them out of the bottom three after Moenchengladbach. — AFP Alessandro Florenzi, Kostas Manolas, Parma’s match with fellow-strugglers just inside the near post to double Werder’s lead Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman, Juan Chievo was postponed until Wednesday after 29 minutes.