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Jana Cepelova vs Arina Rodionova: Fed Cup preview

7th February, 2016
Start time: around 12:30am (AEDT)
Venue: Bratislava, Slovakia
Court: Hardcourt (indoor)
TV: Live Seven Network
Overall record: Never played

Jana Cepelova last 10 matches: Won 5, lost 5
Arina Rodionova last 10 matches: Won 6, lost 4
Expert
7th February, 2016
0

The fourth rubber of the 2016 Fed Cup between Slovakia and Australia will see Jana Cepelova take on Arina Rodionova.

One player will be under extreme pressure to keep the series alive, while the other looks to end it before the doubles, depending on the results of the third rubber.

Both players suffered losses in their first round matches, with Arina Rodionova going down to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and Cepelova beaten by Samantha Stosur.

With both of these players ranked as their country’s number two player, they now get the chance to go up against each other.

Cepelova, after playing some quality tennis throughout the Australian summer – qualifying for Brisbane and then being knocked out by Stosur, before making the second round at the Australian Open – was absolutely smashed by Stosur yesterday. Straight sets it was, and she was never truly in the match as Stosur marked her dominance.

Rodionova meanwhile managed to take the first set against Schmiedlova who was clearly down on confidence and match practice. She struggled badly during the first set, but bounced back strongly to take the final two sets from Rodionova.

Rodionova was a little too predictable during the final two sets, playing a lot of drop shots and putting herself out of position far too often. Cepelova can get a large advantage if she does her homework here, and pounces on those drop shots, which were not always that good.

The pair have never faced off before this meeting. Even though neither player has a great fondness for the hard court, it has been playing more like a slow clay court. Here Cepelova holds the advantage in a big way, with a winning percentage above that of her career mark.

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Prediction
Cepelova should get the job done here. Rodionova, even if she can settle into her rhythm, has too many predictable and readable shots to be able to trouble Cepelova seriously. She could well take a set, but this one will go to Slovakia and we should see a fifth rubber with doubles to decide the tie.

Cepelova in three sets.

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