The United States doubles women’s team had a tough outing playing against Latvia in the Fed Cup qualifiers. The team US was represented by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin against the Latvian duo Anastasija Sevastova and Jelena Ostapenko. Fortunately, Kenin and Mattek- Sands proved hard to beat hence becoming the last lot to qualify for the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals slated for April in Hungary. The American duo won the match 6-4, 6-0 during the fifth and conclusive rubber.
Nevertheless, Sevastova and Ostapenko did not bow out easily. The two really put up a spirited fight against their opponent. They racked up top 10 singles wins, thus pulling level from 0-2 start. As a result, Latvia got a rare chance to become the eighth team to win the Fed Cup tie since 1995 when the best of five formats were introduced, despite starting at 0-2 down.
The relentless Latvian duo, Anastasija Sevastova, and Jelena Ostapenko
The two Latvian tennis players gave Kenin and Mattek-Sands a run for their money. They posed a serious challenge to their American opponents threatening to even prevent the qualification of Team USA to the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Hungary. Ostapenko worked very hard to save numerous breakpoints in her initial two service games. Despite the great display, the Latvians could not avoid an early deficit. However, team USA managed to qualify at the expense of Latvia, thanks to the fantastic doubles performance of Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin. But all in all, it was a contest that was full of resilience and taking chances. Ostapenko and Anastasija showed resilience, but for the American duo, it was all about taking their chances. They managed to edge out the Latvian duo after overcoming a relentless fight from them.
Serena Williams suffers her first Fed Cup singles defeat
Serena Williams was treated to unexpected defeat in the Fed Cup tie for the first time. She lost 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6 (4) to Anastasija Sevastova. The match between them started with five straight service breaks. Sevastova was off to a flying start with a 5-2 before Serena leveled it to 5-5. Nevertheless, the Latvian came back strongly, becoming the first one to reach the setpoint and eventually won the first set. Serena Williams won the second set but ultimately lost in the last set.
Sofia Kenin’s ranking and performance in 2020
Now ranked no.7 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 8th of February when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 2-6 6-2 in the Rubber 3 in Fed Cup.
At present, this year the American has a 10-3 win-loss record. Kenin clinched 1 title at the Australian Open.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands’s ranking and performance in 2020
At the moment ranked no.386, the American played her last match on the 15th of November 2019 when she capitulated to Irina Falconi 6-1 6-3 in the 3rd round of the Oracle Challenger Series Houston.
Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands played each other 1 time. The head to head is 1-0 for Mattek-Sands.
The last time that they fought against each other, Bethanie Mattek-Sands won 6-4 6-4 in the 1st round in Charleston (Volvo Car Open) in April 2017.
Serena Williams’s ranking and performance in 2020
At the moment ranked no.9, the American played her last match on the 8th of February when she lost to Anastasija Sevastova 7-65 3-6 7-64 in the Rubber 4 in Fed Cup.
At the moment, this season Serena Williams has a 8-2 win-loss record. Serena conquered 1 title in Auckland.
Sofia Kenin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Serena Williams |
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