Live Blog Updates: Fed Cup Final Day Two

Thank you for joining On the Baseline for the 2007 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas final!

After winning both matches on day one, the Russian squad is now just one win away from capturing their third Fed Cup title in four years. World No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova has a chance to bring the Fed Cup home for her team in the first match of the day, a singles rubber against Francesca Schiavone.

Feel free to send your questions or comments to info@onthebaseline.com. I’ll try to mention as many as I can over the next two days of coverage. All times listed below are Moscow time.

5:58 pm - The final doubles match has been canceled and the trophy presentation is proceeding. Thanks for joining me for the weekend!

5:34 pm - Russia 6-2, 6-4 - Elena Vesnina closes out the fourth rubber of the 2007 Fed Cup final on her first match point. Russia, who has already clinched the title, adds to its lead 4-0.

5:30 pm - Russia 6-2, 5-4 - Another break goes the way of Vesnina and now she’ll serve for a 4-0 lead for Russia.

5:23 pm - Russia 6-2, 3-3 - Santangelo breaks back to level the set at 3-all. She has the most unique service motion, reminds me a little bit of Marion Bartoli.

5:19 pm - Russia 6-2, 3-2 - Santangelo manages to hold, but the strain of losing the final is clearly evident.

5:08 pm - Russia 6-2, 2-1 - Already up a break, Vesnina is continuing to dominate over the Italian. Santangelo’s form has been sluggish throughout the summer, and her Fed Cup results this weekend have been no better.

4:57 pm - Russia 6-2 - Vesnina continues to cruise past Santangelo, and takes the opening set 6-2.

4:40 pm - Russia 3-1 - Vesnina’s looking great in her first match and is taking advantage of a discouraged Santangelo. This rubber could be over pretty quickly.

4:28 pm - Russia 1-0 - Elena Vesnina has taken the first game of the match. This is Vesnina’s singles debut in a Fed Cup match. Obviously it may seem a bit hard to get excited about a dead rubber, but quite a few people are still in the stands.

4:14 pm - Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev has decided to forego using Anna Chakvetadze in the fourth (dead) rubber of the final. Elena Vesnina is scheduled to compete against Mara Santangelo. No word yet on who will be contesting the doubles match. The trophy presentation will be after the final match.

#4 - Elena Vesnina vs. Mara Santangelo

3:51 pm - Russia 4-6, 7-6(7-), 7-5 - The Russians have captured the 2007 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title! The crowds erupts, meanwhile it is hugs all around for Kuznetsova, Chakvetadze, Petrova, Vesnina, and Sharapova.

3:48 pm - Russia 4-6, 7-6(7-), 6-5 - This match has been a seesaw from start to finish. Kuznetsova grabs yet another break - and another chance to serve for the title.

3:37 pm - Russia 4-6, 7-6(7-), 5-5 - The pressure of the moment got into Kuznetsova’s head as Schiavone breaks yet again. The Italian refuses to surrender without a fight.

3:44 pm - Russia 4-6, 7-6(7-), 5-4 - Kuznetsova breaks with the help of a lucky netcord on a passing shot. She’ll now get a chance to serve for the 2007 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas trophy. Can you believe Schiavone blew a 4-1 lead in this set?

3:33 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 4-4 - Schiavone had her chances, but an ace seals the game for Kuznetsova to level the match.

3:26 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 4-3 - A crucial double-fault by Schiavone, followed by another easy miss at the net hands Kuznetsova the break to get back on serve.

3:24 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 4-2 - After being broken in her previous service game, Kuznetsova storms back to hold at love. She is still down a break, but the crowd is trying to get her back in the match.

3:22 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 4-1 - Another solid hold by Schiavone. The Italian looks poised and confident as this match may be winding to a close.

3:20 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 3-1 - Schiavone breaks! Kuznetsova’s momentum was shattered after the injury timeout and lost her serve at 15-40.

3:16 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 2-1 - Schiavone is taking time during the changeover to have some type of ointment massaged into her thighs. Schiavone’s fitness is top-notch, but this is her sixth set of tennis in less than 24 hours.

3:12 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 2-1 - Cross-court winner by Schiavone at 40-15 puts Italy back on top. Sharapova and Vesnina have returned to the court after taking a break during the sets.

3:10 pm - Russia 6-4, 7-6(7-), 1-1 - Another easy hold for Kuznetsova. She’s looking much more confident after coming through the tiebreak.

3:06 pm - Italy 6-4, 7-6(7-), 1-0 - The first game of the third set goes to Schiavone. If she is experiencing a letdown after blowing two match points, it is not showing from her body language.

2:57 pm - Tied 6-4, 7-6(7) - Kuznetsova takes the set! Once again, we’re looking at a three-set thriller. The momentum is clearly with Kuznetsova, but can Schiavone hang on for Italy?

2:55 pm - Italy 6-5, 6-6 (7-8) - Kuznetsova fires back Schiavone’s serve with a lethal cross-court winner. Next up, Kuznetsova’s set point after Schiavone nets another shot.

2:54 pm - Italy 6-5, 6-6 (7-6) - A beautiful cross-court backhand sets up another match point for Schiavone - on her serve.

2:53 pm - Italy 6-5, 6-6 (6-6) - A powerful serve by Kuznetsova saves Schiavone’s first match point. Tied once again.

2:51 pm - Italy 6-4, 6-6 (6-5) - The Italians are on their feet. Match point Schiavone.

2:47 pm - Italy 6-4, 6-6 (2-4) - Change of ends. Kuznetsova leads the tiebreak 4-2. You have to wonder if Schiavone isn’t thinking of how she blew her chance at 5-4.

2:47 pm - Italy 6-4, 6-6 - Schiavone holds and we’re into a tiebreak.

2:37 pm - Italy 6-4, 5-6 - Kuznetsova proves that serve and volleying is not completely gone from the women’s game, with a winning comination on game point. Instead of warming up Mara Santangelo, Italy is trying to will Schiavone to a straight sets win.

2:34 pm - Italy 6-4, 5-5 - Kuznetsova Breaks! A couple of gutsy shots by the Russian keeps her alive. I can’t say this is the best tennis I’ve ever seen, but Kuznetsova is doing her all to push this into a deciding set.

2:29 pm - Italy 6-4, 5-4 - A wild backhand up the line by Schiavone keeps Russia alive in the third rubber. She’ll now get a chance to serve for the match.

2:26 pm - Italy 6-4, 5-3 - Another hold at love for Schiavone. Kuznetsova will now have to serve to stay in the match. I wonder if Italy will stick with Santangelo in the next rubber?

2:22 pm - Italy 6-4, 4-3 - Schiavone breaks right back! Whatever momentum Kuznetsova gained after breaking back in the last game has quickly dissipated.

2:17 pm - Italy 6-4, 3-3 - A loose forehand from Schiavone sets up a break point for Kuznetsova, which she quickly converts to level things in the second set.

2:11 pm - Italy 6-4, 3-2 - She is not moving much better, but Kuznetsova is still out there fighting. It is moments like these that make a team captain’s role important on the court.

2:07 pm - Italy 6-4, 3-1 - Schiavone consolidates her break of serve and is playing some of her best tennis. Kuznetsova only managed to win one point in the game. Time for Kuzy to slow things down and regroup.

2:05 pm - Italy 6-4, 2-1 - A beautiful passing shot on the run hands Francesca Schiavone the early lead in the second set. Kuznetsova is a mess out there right now.

2:02 pm - Italy 6-4, 1-1 - A wild forehand by Kuznetsova allows Schiavone to hold. Russia needs to close out the final in this match because Anna Chakvetadze is hardly considered Russia’s most mentally strong player.

1:58 pm - Italy 6-4, 0-1 - The pressure is clearly on Kuznetsova, but she managed to save a break point to get on the scoreboard first in the second set.

Charity Break!
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1:52 pm - Italy 6-4 - The underdog Italian squad has captured the first set, 6-4 Schiavone.

1:48 pm - Italy 5-4 - Kuznetsova holds serve finally, but now Francesca Schiavone will have an opportunity to serve out the first set. If she can do it, Italy may be able to mount a comeback in this final.

1:47 pm - Italy 5-3 - Schiavone holds at love, forcing Kuznetsova to serve to stay in the first set. Even Maria Sharapova is starting to look worried on the sidelines.

1:41 pm - Italy 4-3 - Schiavone breaks serve to recapture the lead. Both players are looking somewhat tenative and nervous, especially Kuznetsova.

1:36 pm - Tied 3-3 - Schiavone holds serve to level the match at 3-all.

1:31 pm - Russia 3-2 - Schiavone breaks back, holding Kuznetsova at 15-40. We’ve only seen five games this morning and already there has been four breaks of serve.

1:28 pm - Russia 3-1 - Kuznetsova grabs the security break, putting Russia back in the driver’s seat.

1:24 pm - Russia 2-1 - Kuznetsova is starting to settle down and find her momentum. She easily holds serve after taking the break.

1:19 pm - Tied 1-1 - Two double-faults by Schiavone hands the break right back to Kuznetsova. Schiavone’s biggest liabilities right now are her serve and her tendency to be streaky off her forehand.

1:14 pm - Italy 1-0 - Slight delay of play. Apparently Kuznetsova broke a shoestring during the first game. Fortunately, her teammate on the sidelines, Nadia Petrova, had an extra one available.

1:13 pm - Italy 1-0 - Schiavone breaks serve in the opening service game as Kuznetsova takes quite a tumble attempting to reach a well-placed Schiavone dropshot. After blowing her chances yesterday, Francesca Schiavone looks ready to handle the pressure of the moment. Can Kuzy do the same?

1:07 pm - Headed into day two, things don’t look too bright for the defending champions. No squad has ever managed to overcome a two set deficit in the final.

1:02 pm - Hello everyone and thank you again for joining us today for the Fed Cup final. The players are warming up on court and action will begin shortly.

#3 - Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Francesca Schiavone

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