Fed Cup: Sweden seal Russia play-off berth

Russia will face Sweden for the right to play off for a spot in World Group II of the Fed Cup after the Swedes maintained their perfect record in Europe/Africa Zone Group I on Friday by beating Bulgaria.

Mirjam Bjorklund started the day with a shock win over Isabella Shinikova, a player positioned more than 200 places above her in the WTA Rankings, winning through 6-3, 6-2.

Buoyed by this, WTA World No.71 Johanna Larsson defeated Viktoriya Tomova, 6-4, 6-4, to seal the win before Bjorklund returned to court to win the doubles tie alongside Cornelia Lister.

No.1 seeds Ukraine, meanwhile, had first place put beyond them with this result, but recorded a resounding win over Estonia. Marta Kostyuk beat Saara Orav, 6-3, 6-0, before Kateryna Kozlova defeated Elena Malygina in just 34 minutes without dropping a game.

In the Asia/Oceania zone, China will face Kazakhstan in the promotion match-up.

Kazakhstan, playing at home, made it two wins from two matches this week as Zarina Diyas and Yulia Putintseva defeated Indian players Karman Kaur Thandi and Ankita Raina respectively in straight sets, before the doubles rubber was sealed in emphatic style by Anna Danilina and Galina Voskoboeva over Riya Bhatia and Prarthana Thombare, 6-1, 6-1. 

It was a little more complicated for China, however. Zhaoxuan Yang eased to victory over Indonesia’s Aldila Sutjiadi in little over an hour but Beatrice Gumulya threatened an upset by taking the first set against Zheng Saisai before succumbing in three. The Chinese team then won the doubles rubber.

In the day’s other match, South Korea swept Pacific Oceania 3-0, losing just a single set.