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By Erik Gudris | Sunday, February 9, 2014

 

Despite a wobble when first serving out the match, Karin Knapp came through to send defending champions Italy back to the Fed Cup semifinals over the U.S.

Photo Credit: AP

Even a last minute substitution by U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez couldn't stop Italy from reaching the Fed Cup semifinals.

With Italy leading the U.S. 2-0 after the first day of the opening round tie in Cleveland, Ohio, Fernandez decided to put up world No. 46 Alison Riske against veteran and world No. 40 Karin Knapp.

Madison Keys, who lost to Camila Giorgi on Saturday, was to have played initially instead of Riske.

While Riske certainly brought enthusiasm to her first ever Fed Cup rubber, it did little to prevent Knapp from wrapping up the opening set 6-3.

An easy straight sets win looked inevitable for the more experienced Knapp, who at one stage had 21 winners to just four from Riske. Knapp, up another break lead, soon found herself serving for the tie at 5-4.

But with the pressure on, Knapp faltered while Riske started playing more relaxed. Riske held a break point that she converted to keep herself alive for 5-all.

The momentum was short-lived though as Knapp broke back to once again earn a chance to serve for the match at 6-5.

This time she made no mistake as she closed out the 6-3, 7-5 victory.

"Yeah, yeah, it's not playing like just for me," Knapp said later after admitting she felt nervous the first time she served for the match. "Fed Cup, you have your team there. They all want you to win, to get the victory. But at the end I'm alone on court every time. I have to manage it. I think it was not easy, but I managed it well."

"I felt like I learned a lot," Riske said about the experience. "I think like only good things can be taken from this. It's a priceless opportunity to play in a stand like that and to have the pressure on you. You can't replicate that. I think something like that's going to help me when I play in a Grand Slam and play against a player, any player, just to be in that type of environment. I think it's exactly what I needed. I'm happy that I got to play."

Knapp's win sealed the tie for Italy. As a result, the second reverse singles rubber was not played. The dead doubles rubber was contested though as Cleveland's own Lauren Davis paired with Madison Keys to beat Nastassja Burnett and Alice Matteucci 6-2, 6-3.

With the 3-1 result, Italy now returns to the Fed Cup semifinals. They will face either the Czech Republic or Spain, a contest that was delayed due to rain.

 

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