Kasatkina, San Jose runner-up, helps Russians win Cup

Daria Kasatkina, playing in San Jose in August, beat Jil Teichmann of Switzer-
land 6-2, 6-4 today in the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague. Photo by Mal Taam

   The Russian Tennis Federation defeated Switzerland 2-0 today in Prague to win the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) for the first time in 13 years and fifth time overall.

   Daria Kasatkina, the San Jose runner-up in August, began the day with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jil Teichmann. Liudmila Samsonova then outlasted Belinda Bencic, who won the singles gold medal in this year's Tokyo Olympics, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

   Switzerland fell to 0-2 in Billie Jean King Cup finals.

   The World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia from international competition for four years in August, but athletes not implicated in doping are allowed to compete under a neutral flag.

   WTA Tour — No. 3 seed Anna Bondar of Hungary beat No. 1 seed Mayar "Who Shot The" Sherif (Fresno State, 2015-16) of Egpyt 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Argentina Open on clay in Buenos Aires. It's the first WTA tournament in Argentina in 34 years.

   College — No. 2 seed Arthur Fery "Cross the Mersey" of Stanford outlasted No. 5 seed Matej Vocel of Ohio State 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals of the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego.

   Fery, who has won three consecutive three-set matches, is scheduled to face No. 3 seed August Holmgren of the University of San Diego on Sunday. Holmgren beat No. 1 seed Clement Chidekh of Washington 6-0, 1-6, 6-3.

   In the doubles semifinals, No. 4 seeds Fery and Alexandre Rotsaert defeated No. 7 seeds Lui Maxted and Pedro Vives Marcos of Texas Christian 6-3, 7-5. Fery and Rotsaert are set to meet No. 1 seeds Robert Cash and Vocel, who eliminated No. 3 seeds Andres Martin and Marcus McDaniel, from Vacaville, Calif., of Georgia Tech 5-7, 6-1 [10-6].