Absolutely crucial hold by Daniela to go 5-4 up. She had to save 3 BPs before clinching the game on her 3rd GP.
6-4, 1st set Slovakia on their 2nd set point. Daniela wins it with an exquisite dropshot.

2nd set:
1-0, Daniela holds to 30 and wins game with an ace.
1-1, Vesnina holds to 30.
1-2, Dominika broken, got back from 15-40 but she served a DF at 40 all and was broken.
1-3, Makarova saves 2 BPs to hold. Dominika netted a 2nd serve return on the 2nd BP.
1-4, Daniela broken. She had a GP at 40-30 but lost the next 3 points.
1-5. Vesnina holds to 15. Mostly errors from Slovakia. have to hold next game to arrest the Russian momemtum.
2-5, Dominika holds.
3-5, Makarova broken on a great drop shot by Dominika. Slovakia saved a set point that game.
3-6, Daniela broken to 0. The third to fifth games were crucial in that set as Slovakia had chances in all of them but Russia won them and got the lead and momentum to win the set.

What was Liptak complaining about? My stream was buffering.

I know u shouldnt tank a set, but breaking Russia there 3-5 means that Russia will serve first in the last set...urgh

Final set, this whole tie is so exhausting just watching...

If they lose this is gonna hurt really badly.

Well, that was it. A real pity.

This is shit. Vesnina and Makarova were a lot fresher in the doubles but as Vesnina only played the doubles and Makarova just played one singles match while Daniela & Dominika had both played two singles matches plus the doubles and got tired in the last two sets. Things could have been different if Slovakia had won a couple of games from 1-1 in the second set because that was where Russia gained the momentum to win the match.

Maybe it would be better for Slovakia to pick Janette Husarova for doubles as she's still a good doubles player. Dominika doesn't have the net skills for doubles, Cepelova has no doubles experience and the selections from the past fews ties show that Rybarikova's not trusted.

This is just numbing and stunning and one that will be sore for a while. Still, Daniela has to get going again in Marrakesh and it's probably good that she can just get away and focus on playing again and not have to dwell on this. She had a worse loss against Serbia two years ago but got a good win in Stuttgart against Dulgheru and used that to gain momentum to play some of her best ever tennis in summer 2011.

That medical timeout that Makarova took really changed the tie because it totally stalled Daniela's momentum when she was in sight of the win.

I'm just terribly upset for Daniela. She deserved so much better for all her efforts today.
Totally agree, Benji. She played so well and fought so hard and it's for nothing. I really feel for her.

I'm just terribly upset for Daniela. She deserved so much better for all her efforts today.
Totally agree, Benji. She played so well and fought so hard and it's for nothing. I really feel for her.

I do wish,in retrospect,that Liptak had played Rybarikova in the doubles today. Yes,she played badly against Serbia last time out,but she is tall,has an effective serve and can volley well-things that were glaringly lacking in Dominikas play today.