SOCHI, Russia — Russia is on the brink of a place in the Fed Cup final after Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Germany's Sabine Lisicki for a 2-0 lead Saturday in the World Group semifinals.
Pavlyuchenkova saved a match point in the second set before going on to beat Lisicki 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 after Svetlana Kuznetsova had earlier beaten Julia Goerges in straight sets in the opening rubber.
The result leaves Russia needing one win from Sunday's three matches to reach the final and challenge for a first Fed Cup title since 2008.
With the Czech Republic leading France 2-0 in the other semifinal after Saturday's play, there is potential for a rematch of the 2011 final, when the Czechs beat Russia in Moscow.