With both players coming off wins on day one of the 2016 Fed Cup, Aussie Samantha Stosur will be under pressure to take the victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:50pm (AEDT).
Schmiedlova took on Arina Rodionova in the first rubber yesterday. While she was able to walk away with a two sets to one victory, it was far from smooth sailing for the world No.29. She struggled with her serve, and clearly had no confidence in her game, dropping the first set.
While she was able to bounce back and take both the second and third sets, she will seriously have to up her game when she takes on Stosur who, with all respect to Rodionova, is a much higher quality opponent and will launch onto the serves of Schmiedlova.
Stosur in her match against Jana Cepelova was able to take a dominating straight sets victory. After crashing out in the first round of the Australian Open, it was the confidence booster she needed to get her season, and the Fed Cup, on the right track.
Schmiedlova has also been in terrible form during the lead up to the Fed Cup, and bombed out of the Australian Open in the first round.
With Rodionova taking on Cepelova in the fourth rubber, it could go either way. That means this rubber has a lot of pressure on it, with both players looking to take the pressure off their teammate.
The pair have played twice before with Stosur taking both meetings. In saying that, they have never met on the hard court, with the previous meetings being on clay and grass. Stosur managed to take both matches in straight sets, and has never been challenged by Schmiedlova.
With the recent form of Schmiedlova it is hard to see that changing this time around either.
The court has been much talked about in Slovakia. It it an incredibly slow one, with poor bounce and it has made it generally hard for the players to stick to their normal game. Whoever deals with it better could walk away with the victory.
Prediction
Schmiedlova, even though she won yesterday really looked in all sorts with her serve. Stosur played a dominant match, and should walk away with the win here. In saying that, Schmiedlova should grab a set at some point.
Stosur in three sets.
Join The Roar for live coverage of the third rubber at the 2016 Federation Cup between Slovakia and Australia from 11pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your comments in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
As much as I would love to blog the next two rubbers, they will be scores only as sleep is catching up with me. http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/02/08/jana-cepelova-vs-arina-rodionova-fed-cup-live-scores-blog/ Hearing there could be team changes to the second match as well. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage, Until next time, It's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH STOSUR Stosur with a strong finish here. Schmiedlova with a strong serve, but two forehands to the corner puts an end to any resistance. So, Australia lead the tie 2-1 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6 5 Samantha Stosur 7 7
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stosur now puts a forehand long, after having Schmiedlova just one decent shot away from losing. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 30 Stosur 7 6 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve down the middle, but Stosur and her forehand is simply too good. MATCH POINT Schmiedlova 6 5 - 15 Stosur 7 6 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Schmiedlova with a fault and then Stosure with the returns of the match. Schmiedloa sends here one way, and then back the other before Stosur gets a drop shot in. Schmiedlova comes forward and returns but Stosur with a backhand past her. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 15 Stosur 7 6 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
A fault, then one down the middle but it is slow and Stosur gets on top before making the unforced error on the forehand. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 15 Stosur 7 6 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Schmiedlova now on serve and starts with a double fault. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 0 Stosur 7 6 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stosur completes a very comfortable hold as Schmiedlova puts a backhand long. Schmiedlova 6 5 Stosur 7 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great play here from Stosur, putting a forehand into the corner and Schmiedlova, who was way out the other side of the court had no chance. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 0 Stosur 7 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Schmiedlova before Stosur puts a cracking forehand down the line and Schmiedlova returns long. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 0 Stosur 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Schmiedlova goes from side to side and sends a backhand long eventually. Schmiedlova 6 5 - 0 Stosur 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Down the middle goes the serve, and wide goes Stosur's return. Schmiedlova 6 5 Stosur 7 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stosur now returns the serve with a backhand and gets some misfortune hitting the net. Schmiedlova 6 4 - AD Stosur 7 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault on the first serve here, before Schmiedlova sends a forehand wide. Schmiedlova 6 4 - Deuce (1) Stosur 7 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
What a forehand! Straight down the line, paints it in fact and long, just inside the service line. Schmiedlova had no chance. Schmiedlova 6 4 - 40 Stosur 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Double fault. Schmiedlova 6 4 - 40 Stosur 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve at the body now from Schmiedlova and Stosur returns long. Schmiedlova 6 4 - 40 Stosur 7 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault on the first serve before she goes wide and then looks to come up. Stosur with the back hand and it thuds into the net. Schmiedlova 6 4 - 30 Stosur 7 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Schmiedlova serving to keep this second set alive here and starts with a fault before Stosur returns the second long. Schmiedlova 6 4 - 15 Stosur 7 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fast serve down the middle and Schmiedlova can't return it. Schmiedlova 6 4 Stosur 7 5