Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/117483
Varvara Lepchenko made a fine debut for USA with two singles wins FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS ���They (Vinci and Errani) are the weapon,��� said the former doubles world No. 1. ���They���re like sisters and best friends; they can read each other���s body language. That���s why they���re No. 1 and I think they���ll be that for many years to come.��� Slovak Republic and Russia will contest the second semifinal for the right to meet Czech Republic or Italy after prevailing 3-2 in very different encounters. Slovak Republic���s win over 2012 finalists Serbia, without the injured Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, proved fairly straightforward but for a blip when Dominika Cibulkova was overwhelmed by crippling cramp and had to retire while serving for the second rubber leading 65 5-4 against Vesna Dolonc. ���I had a complete breakdown of my body,��� the world No. 15 later said. ���I was cramping in my legs, in my arms, everywhere. It was just horrible.��� Four-time champions Russia had to dig a little deeper to reach the semifinals thanks to stiff resistance from Japanese No. 1 Ayumi Morita, something of a Fed Cup veteran at just 22, who managed remarkably efficient singles wins against Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. She was finally silenced by the Russian pair in the doubles, her 33rd Fed Cup rubber, falling 62 62 alongside Misaki Doi. ���Morita played unbelievably for her country,��� said Makarova. ���She played great tennis and made it really tough to beat her. Thank God we played good tennis in doubles.��� Romina Oprandi was another to play out of her skin, making one of several memorable Fed Cup debuts in World Group II after defeating Kirsten Flipkens and Yanina Wickmayer for the loss of just ten games as Switzerland headlined World Group II by defeating Belgium 4-1 in Bern. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor also enjoyed an unforgettable first Fed Cup appearance, winning the decisive rubber in Conchita Martinez���s first tie as captain as Spain saw off Ukraine, while new Swedish captain Lars-Anders Wahlgren oversaw an historic win for Sweden as it defeated Argentina by winning a Fed Cup tie from 2-0 down for the first time in the nation���s history. Less fortunate on her first outing at the helm of the French team, Amelie Mauresmo, a Fed Cup winner in 2003, saw Pauline Parmentier and Kristina Mladenovic outclassed by big-hitting Germans Sabine Lisicki and Julia Goerges respectively as the hosts lost 3-1 to Germany in Limoges. ���On paper and on court we were not the best players throughout this weekend and it showed,��� said Mauresmo, whose team face a fight to remain in World Group II when they host Kazakhstan in the play-offs on 20-21 April. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor embraces her teammates after winning the decisive third rubber for Spain ���It was exciting, it was disappointing, it was exhilarating ��� a lot of different emotions. It was intense and it was tiring, but I enjoyed it overall.��� Amelie Mauresmo Roberta Vinci hugs Sara Errani after the pair secured Italy���s fifth consecutive semifinal in the competition Amelie Mauresmo roars her team on