Federation Cup (Tennis) - Israel Vs. Russia

[ramchen]

Yesterday Shahar Peer played against Dinara Safina, which replaced Anna Chakvetadze. After a horrible start by Peer, something happened in the game. Shahar Peer was finally able to release her arm and for the first time broke Safina. The crowd helped Peer and pushed her, while Safina broke down mentally. After 6-0 win in the first set, Peer won the next sets in the same score (2-6).
Right after this match, Maria Sharapova played against Tzipi Obziler. The russian made no mistakes, and won the first set easily with 6-0 after 28 minutes. After 4-0 to Sharapova in the 2nd set, it looked like Sharapova weren't sweating at all, but 34 y.o Obziler finally showed up to the game.
The crowd started to moan as Sharapova , and it really pissed her off.
After a tough fight, the score was 5-4 to Sharapova, and she won the last set and the whola match.

As for today matches, I think that although Peer and Obziler will enjoy the support from the Israeli croud, there would be no match.
Maria Sharapova learned how to avoid the Israeli croud, so it won't influence her play, and she probably win the match against Peer.
Obziler might start better against Anna Chakvetadze, but the Russian will win the match, because there are still differences in the level of the two players.

My opinion: Russia will win in both matches, and continue to the semi-final.

[ramchen]

Sharapova kicked Peer (6-1),(6-1), just as I expected:
"Maria Sharapova learned how to avoid the Israeli croud, so it won't influence her play, and she probably win the match against Peer."

Chakvetadze won Vs Obziler (6-4),(6-2), with a great start of the Israeli (0-3) just as I assumed:
"Obziler might start better against Anna Chakvetadze, but the Russian will win the match, because there are still differences in the level of the two players."