Bolstered by two WTA Top-100 players in its line-up, Kazakhstan was in control most of the way and won its final pool match against a Hong Kong side led by Zhang Ling and Jessica Yang 3-0 at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Zone Group II qualifying in Perth to gain promotion to Group I in 2010.

The territory will remain in Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2010.

Meanwhile, up in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I, a Chinese Taipei team without the presence of Chan Yung-Jan and Hsieh Su-Wei will go up against a Sania Mirza-less Indian side in a Relegation Playoff on Saturday for Group I survival.

The losing nation from this encounter will join the likes of Hong Kong, Iran, Singapore, Turkmenistan, etc, down in Group II in 2010.

Photo Gallery

First up at No. 2 singles against Kazakhstan, the discrepancy in terms of ranking and experience playing on the big stage was telling between Jessica Yang (WTA 768) and Galina Voskoboeva (WTA Singles 71, Doubles 39), as the Kazak ran away with the first set without the loss of a game.

After another good pep talk during changeovers, Jessica managed to force deuce six times on Voskoboeva's serve before her opponent finally held for 1-0 to open the second set. Following repeated tactical advice from Team Captain Venant Shum, Jessica began to zero in on her opponent's weaker backhand side and held confidently at love to take the score to 1-1.

In the following game, Jessica finally broke through for the first time after four long deuces to lead for the first time in this match 2-1. However, first serves were found wanting in the next game and Voskoboeva took advantage of any second serve deliveries with her potent forehand to break back after three deuces for 2-2.

Jessica then forced deuce on her opponent's serve another four times before the world No. 71 finally held for 3-2. With orders from the sidelines to take some pace off her first serves in order to increase the percentages of the first deliveries, Jessica again held at love confidently to force a 3-3 stalemate.

After both players held solidly to take proceedings to 4-4, Jessica again broke serve following 3 deuces after Voskoboeva had led 40-15. Serving for the set at 5-4, it was toe-to-toe and back-and-forth until deuce when two missed first serves again allowed her opponent to take advantage with her sledgehammer forehands, as the Kazak broke back for 5-5.

Both players then held serve to take matters into a tiebreak.

After exchanging early mini-breaks with the score back on serve at 2-1 to Jessica's advantage, Voskoboeva stepped it up when it mattered most and strong-armed the next half dozen points to wrap up a 6-0, 7-6(2), victory for Kazakhstan.

At number one singles against Zhang Ling (WTA 380), the 5-foot-11 Yaroslava Shvedova (WTA 100, Doubles 46) simply had too much game, as she was able to run down almost everything thrown at her, while having the ability to step way into court to take shots on-the-rise Agassi-style almost at will.

The HK Fed Cupper managed to put up good resistance at the beginning of both sets but class in the end told the tale, as Shvedova ran away with the rubber, 6-2, 6-3, to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead that essentially put Kazakhstan into Group I in 2010.

The 21-year-old Shvedova was ranked as high as No. 70 in singles (27 Aug 2007) and No. 41 in doubles (13 Oct 2008) on the WTA Tour, in addition to No. 13 on the junior circuit (12 Sep 2005). Last year, she won the US$100,000+H Monterrey and boasts having won against the likes of Zheng Jie (WTA 24), Akgul Amanmuradova (WTA 84), and Chan Yung-Jan (WTA 75), to name a few.

In doubles, she also reached the final at the Tier III US$150,000 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open 2008 in Cincinnati, beat Zheng Jie and Yan Zi to reach the semifinals of the Tier II US$600,000 Beijing Open 2008, and semis of the Tier I US$1,340,000 Kremlin Cup 2008.

In the doubles, Kazak No. 4 Valentina Starkova (ITF 115) was given her first outing in this year's Fed Cup, as she teamed up with Galina Voskoboeva to beat Zhang Ling and Jessica Yang, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, to complete the overall 3-0 score line.

Next year's campaign would not be any easier, as Chinese Taipei is mired in a Relegation Playoff battle with India, with either team obviously being a tough opponent for the territory in Group II.

Related Info: Captain's Blog: Mary Joe Fernandez writes from Surprise, Arizona (www.usta.com)



Results
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas 2009
Asia/Oceania Zone Group II
State Tennis Centre, Perth, Australia
February 3-7, 2009

Day Three (6 Feb 2009)

KAZAKHSTAN defeated HONG KONG   3 - 0

R-1 Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d. Jessica Yang (HKG) 6-0 7-6(2)
R-2 Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Zhang Ling (HKG) 6-2 6-3
R-3 Galina Voskoboeva/Valentina Starkova (KAZ) d. Zhang Ling/Jessica Yang (HKG) 6-4 2-6 6-4

Kazakhstan promoted to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 2010