Four-time champions Russia duly booked their place in the inaugural Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals week by sealing their expected victory over Romania on Saturday - yet their triumph in this most electric of Qualifiers in Cluj-Napoca proved a nerve-shredding affair thanks to the resilient heroics of the unsung Ana Bogdan and Jaqueline Cristian.
Ekaterina Alexandrova came of age, enjoying a perfect debut as the Russian spearhead as she completed a weekend double by downing the never-say-die Bogdan 7-5 3-6 7-5 in a compelling and pivotal duel that, ultimately, set her team on the way to a 3-2 victory and a date in Budapest in April.
The visitors’ coup de grace was finally provided by Moscow’s ‘two Annas’, 21-year-olds Anna Blinkova and Anna Kalinskaya, who held their nerve while not just blocking out the cacophony from the partisan fans and their oompah band in the fevered Sala Polivalenta but actually joining in the singing during the changeovers as they defeated Cristian and Elena Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-2.
“When the crowd were singing, I was singing with them - and this was very joyful for me,” smiled Blinkova. “The best way to block out the noise is by joining them. It’s really bad if you get mad against their noise - you can enjoy it with them!
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