Battling Myskina lead Russia to first Fed Cup title
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-29 16:41

Anastasia Myskina and Vera Zvonareva powered Russia to their first Fed Cup title by winning the decisive doubles against holders France on Sunday.

Russian tennis champ Anastasia Myskina [file/www.propix.info]

Russia, the hot favourites, had Myskina to thank for their nervy 3-2 victory in the final.

The French Open champion gave the home team all three points by winning both singles matches in the final before teaming up with Zvonareva to beat French pair Emilie Loit and Marion Bartoli 7-6 7-5.

The two nations were level at 2-2 after 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin kept alive France's hopes of retaining the title by crushing U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-1 in the second reverse singles.

Russian tennis team Vera Zvonareva (L), Anastasia Myskina (2nd R) and Elena Likhovtseva (R) pose with the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the trophy after they won the final Fed Cup tennis match in Moscow, November 28, 2004. [Reuters]

Myskina had put the home team ahead 2-1 when she eased past Nathalie Dechy 6-3 6-4.

The Russians were overwhelming favourites to win their first Fed Cup title against a French team missing world number two Amelie Mauresmo and twice grand slam champion Mary Pierce.

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