Australia vs Russia 24-25th April - Fed Cup News, Head to Heads etc.

Russia-Australia

Venue - Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", in Moscow
Date - 24 April - 25 April 2004
Surface: Carpet (Taraflex)

Russian Team - not confirmed (4 out of these 5 likely)

Myskina
Dementieva
Petrova
Zvonareva
Sharapova

Australian Team - all but confirmed

Molik
Pratt
Stosur
Stubbs

Orange Slut - Olivia Lukaszewicz

According to Rusty Redhead, Sam Stosur is in Brisbane with Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and hitting partner/orange girl Olivia Lukaszewicz.

I'm sure Evonne would like to give the 2nd singles to Sam but until training begins in Moscow she won't make the decision.

Here are the 3 Aussies H2H's against the 5 Russians!


ANASTASCIA MYSKINA 5-0 against Aussies

Molik 0-1 against Myskina
F Sarasota Apr 6 2003 A Myskina(2) - A Molik-Q 6-4 6-1

Pratt 0-3 against Myskina but did have her down 6-3 5-1 last year at Toronto!
2 Philadelp. Nov 2 2003 A Myskina(3) - N Pratt 6-3 6-2
2 Toronto Aug 17 2003 A Myskina(5) - N Pratt-Q 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4
SF Birmingham June 16 2002 A Myskina(6) - N Pratt(14) 6-3 7-5

Stosur 0-1 against Myskina
1 Gold Coast Jan 6 2002 A Myskina - S Stosur-WC 6-2 6-0


ELENA DEMENTIEVA 1-1 against Aussies

Molik 0-1 against Dementieva
1 Toronto Aug 17 2003 E Dementieva(9) - A Molik 6-3 7-6(7)

Pratt 1-0 against Dementieva
2 Key Bisc. Mar 30 2003 N Pratt - E Dementieva(19) 7-5 6-4

Stosur's never played her


NADIA PETROVA 1-0 against Aussies

Molik never played her

Pratt 0-1 against Petrova
2 Gold Coast Jan 11 2004 N Petrova(2) - N Pratt 6-2 6-2

Stosur's never played her


VERA ZVONAREVA 2-1 against Aussies

Molik 1-0 against Zvonareva
QF Hobart Jan 12 2003 A Molik - V Zvonareva(5) 5-7 7-6(4) 6-4

Pratt 0-2 against Zonareva
3 Australian O. Feb 1 2004 V Zvonareva(11) - N Pratt 7-5 2-6 6-1
1 Sydney Jan 18 2004 V Zvonareva - N Pratt-WC 6-2 6-3

Stosur's never played her


MARIA SHARAPOVA 0-0 against Aussies

Molik's never played her

Pratt's never played her

Stosur's never played her


Looking at the past history I would chose Pratt over Stosur if Dementieva or Sharapova are playing. If the other 3 were playing though you could toss a coin. Whilst Petrova/Myskina/Zvonareva have never lost to Pratt she has pushed M & Z to the brink of defeat on Hardcourt and her experience at this level is far greater than Stosurs having played so many more Russians (they all have similar style games)

Is Nicole fit though? She seems to have had some niggling injuries lately...

I would go with Sam over her...nothing to lose. I mean, chances are, we're going to get hammered, so might as well give her a chance. She likes fast surfaces, and likes playing on the big occassion. :)

Pratts back in action this week, she only had a muscle strain, nothing serious like our poor Trudi who I suspect wont return for a while.

I wouldnt rule out the Aussies completely. Myskina has played an awful amount of tennis she must be a bit tired. Dementieva has an injury from Amelia Island, I was hoping she would play. Petrova's knee could buckle any time, she's been playing a lot too. Sharapova is beatable, and Zvonareva hasnt been doin anything fantastic lately.

Then there is Svetlana Kuznetsova who I forgot about!

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA 2-2 against Aussies

Molik 2-2 against Kuznetsova
3 Indian W. Mar 21 2004 S Kuznetsova(12) - A Molik(22) 3-6 7-66 6-2
Qual 3 Zurich Oct 19 2003 A Molik(7) - S Kuznetsova(4) 6-4 6-4
2 Japan Open Oct 6 2002 A Molik - S Kuznetsova(6) 7-63 6-2
1 Bali Sep 29 2002 S Kuznetsova - A Molik 6-2 6-4

Pratt's never played her

Stosur's never played her

What's wrong with Trudi?? :sad:

The Russians have a mighty team to pick from...whoever they pick, it's gonna be damn hard.

I don't think Sharapova is going to play is she?

Go Aussies, surprise Russia please :lol: :D

NADIA PETROVA 1-0 against Aussies

Molik never played her


forgotten Miami already ;) Petrova 6-2 6-1 :angel:

anyway its gonna be closer than u think
cos its gonna be indoors

we're likely to go with a team of, by looks of things
Kuznetsova, Safina, Zvonareva, Sharapova

i would have picked clay but :rolleyes:

Certainly gonna be a great match no matter what

If Molik or Pratt or Stosur can win on day one and again once on day 2 . . . soubles would be very interesting

Trudi is injured TS

This is our team
Anastasia Myskina
Nadya Petrova
Vera Zvonareva
Svetlana Kuznetsova

Dementieva and Likhovtseva are substitutes.

If Petrova and Myskina both play the singles we are gone!!!!!! hehe

We should be able to win doubles though :)

Russia are an unbelievable team

winning anything would be a great acheivement for the aussies girls

but reckon we might get 1 or 2 rubbers

i reckon we will get 2