PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Russia brought Canada to earth by winning their Billie Jean King Cup tie 3-0 on Tuesday.
Canada’s confidence was boosted the day before when it upset defending champion France, but Russia with all of its players in the top 50 was too strong.
Daria Kasatkina eased past Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., in straight sets, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova clinched the win overcoming Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
“In the second set, the chances (to win) were 50-50 and I’m just happy with the third set,” Pavlyuchenkova said.
Russia’s dominance was completed in the doubles where Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova defeated Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Marino 6-3, 6-1.
Russia completes Group A against France on Wednesday.
Canada competed in Prague without its two top-ranked players, world No. 24 Bianca Andreescu and No. 26 Leylah Fernandez.
“Today was not our day. We played a very good team with a lot of depth. They were very powerful. But overall, it’s been positive,” said Canadian captain Sylvain Bruneau. “We were not supposed to be here in the first place, and to come here and beat France, the defending champions, was a great performance in itself.”
Marino had similar thoughts.
“The whole experience has been really incredible. Canada was a late entry to begin with and to be here as a team, to come together and to play with a lot of heart was a really special thing,” said Marino. “We showed that, though we may have lost and eliminated from the tournament, we belong with the best and we play with a lot of fight and fire. We should really be proud of ourselves and each other.”
The 12 teams in the finals are divided into four groups of three teams. Only the group winners advance to the semifinals on Friday.
In Group B, 2019 runner-up Australia opened its account beating Belgium 2-0.
After Daria Gavrilova’s three-set win over Greet Minnen, the 131st-ranked Storm Sanders on debut came from a set down to stun 18th-ranked Elise Mertens 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0. Sanders converted her second match point with the last of her 35 winners.
“That was a most incredible feeling, I’m still shaking,” Sanders said.
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