Anatastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s lack of fitness was a key factor in the Russian tennis team’s Fed Cup semifinal defeat to Serbia, Russia coach Vladimir Kamelzon told RIA Novosti on Monday.
The world No. 23 lost both her matches as Russia lost 3-2, missing the chance to face the Czech Republic in a repeat of last year’s final, which the Russians lost in Moscow.
“Pavlyuchenkova didn’t have the fitness, the decline was clearly visible, you could see it. She couldn’t compete with opponents like that,” Kamelzon said.
Despite her lack of fitness, Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev was correct to name her in the team, Kamelzon said.
“One the other hand, the captain made the right decision in calling up Pavlyuchenkova to the team. She’s a fighter, but just wasn’t prepared for the match.”
Pavlyuchenkova last competitive singles match before the Fed Cup tie was shock defeat to fellow Russian Nadia Petrova in the third round of the Family Circle Cup earlier this month, although she won the doubles title at that event.
The Russia team was also weakened by the absence of injured world No. 10 Vera Zvonareva, Kamelzon said.
Zvonareva would have been the highest-ranked player in the Russian team, but was forced to watch from the sidelines in Moscow after sustaining a shoulder injury that has also kept her out of this week’s Stuttgart Grand Prix.
“Without Vera Zvonareva it wasn’t the same team,” Kamelzon said.
“Zvonareva’s a team player, a fighter, so you know that if she sat on the bench and didn’t play, she had a serious injury. Unfortunately, Vera was really needed, especially in this match.”
World No. 2 Maria Sharapova did not make herself available for selection, blaming an unspecified injury, although she will compete in Stuttgart this week.
