Sharapova levels it for Russia

TEL AVIV: Russian world number five Maria Sharapova eased past Israeli Tzipi Obziler 6-0 6-4 to level the scores at 1-1 in their Fed Cup World Group first-round tie on Saturday.

Israel had gone ahead in the first match of the day when Shahar Peer beat Dinara Safina 0-6 6-2 6-2.

Australian Open champion Sharapova had far too much power for Obziler, who could find no answer to the tall Russian’s baseline winners.

But Obziler, ranked 85 in the world put up more of a fight in the second set as errors crept into Sharapova’s game.

She wowed the crowd by coming back from came back from 4-0 and 5-1 down to creep back to 5-4 before Sharapova closed out the match. Sharapova said even though the crowd was against her it was something she revelled in. “I love it... it actually gives me energy, as an athlete this is what I play for and it drives me to do better,” the 20-year-old said.

In the opening match, world number 17 Peer started nervously while Safina did not put a foot wrong, pounding winners from the baseline at will.

But Peer bounced back in great fashion winning the next two sets with ease.