Fed Cup: Australia beats Russia 4-0
HOBART, Australia (AP) — Sam Stosur beat Victoria Kan 6-2 6-3 Sunday to give Australia a winning 3-0 lead over Russia in their Fed Cup World Group tie, lifting the Australians into the semifinals for the first time in 20 years.
Stosur, the world No. 16 and former US Open champion, had too much power for 158th-ranked Kan, winning 24 of 25 points on first serve. Russia altered its lineup to send the 18-year-old Kan into action in the reverse singles but wasn't able to break Australia's grip on the tie.
Stosur and Casey Dellacqua had given Australia a 2-0 lead Saturday when they comfortably won their opening singles.
Australia last played in a Fed Cup semifinal in 1993 on its way to the final against Spain. Russia, who made the final last year, are without their 13 top-ranked players.
Casey Dellacqua and Ashleigh Barty later combined to beat Irina Khromacheva and Valeria Solovyeva 6-1, 6-3 in the doubles. The second reverse singles was not played.
