MOSCOW (AP) — Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won their reverse singles and paired to win the doubles Sunday, lifting Russia to a stunning comeback for a 3-2 victory over France in the Fed Cup World Group.
France had stung highly favored Russia on Saturday, when Alize Cornet and Virginie Razzano swept the opening singles.
Pavlyuchenkova replaced Maria Sharapova in Sunday’s first reverse singles and beat Cornet 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Kuznetsova then downed Razzano 6-4, 6-4 before the Russians teamed to defeat Cornet and Julie Coin, 7-6 (4), 6-0.
Russia will host two-time defending champion Italy in the semifinals on April 16-17.
