KRAKSAW: Former world number one Maria Sharapova sent Russia into the semi-finals of the Fed Cup on Sunday as she defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Following Sharapova’s victory over sister Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, combined with a three set win for veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova over Agnieszka, Russia are safely into the last four.

In front of a partisan home crowd of some 15,000, Sharapova, who recently lost the Australian Open final against Serena Williams, improved her record against the world number eight to 12 wins against just two defeats.

Agnieszka saved two match points at 2-5 down in the second set to draw level at 5-5 but ran out of steam as five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova closed out the match in 1hr 46mins.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2015

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