Hilfestellungen » Jake Goebbert struck out looking to squash the rally. T

CAGLIARI, Italy -- Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani struggled but prevailed in the opening singles against Russian debutants to put Italy on the brink of a fourth Fed Cup title on Saturday. Vinci, the winner of nine WTA singles titles, overcame a surprisingly tough challenge from Alexandra Panova, who reached a WTA final once. Vinci rallied from 5-2 down in the second set and saved four match points to win 5-7, 7-5, 8-6 in 3 hours, 13 minutes. "It was an incredible match, was a tough match," Vinci said. "At the end I had a little bit of cramp but I won a great match. There was a lot of ups and downs and I tried to stay focused on every single point. It wasnt easy. "At the end she got a little bit tired. It was her first time (in Fed Cup) so probably there was a bit of nerves. I won and Im happy. I had a great season but I think this is a fantastic win. I love to play Fed Cup and this was an important match, incredible for me." Errani, playing in her second Fed Cup final, suffered somewhat in the second set before defeating Irina Khromacheva, also making her cup debut in the final, 6-1, 6-4. Russia has won the tournament four times in the past 10 years but has travelled to Italy without any of its top players, with some of them injured and some instead playing in the Tournament of Champions in Bulgaria. Italy needs one more victory on Sunday to add to its Fed Cup titles in 2006, 2009 and 2010. Errani takes on Panova in the first of the reverse singles. "I dropped a bit in the second, I was very tired, maybe from Vincis match," Errani said. "Also the weather at night is a bit more heavy so it was not easy for me but Im very happy to have won this point. "I can play much better, of course. Theres a lot of tension. Its never easy to play in Fed Cup especially when youre the favourite like this." Russias youngsters showed theyd come to play when Panova brushed off an early break to win the first set with a love game. Panova continued to dominate and held three match points at 5-2 in the second set. But with teammates Flavia Pennetta and Karin Knapp furiously urging her on, Vinci managed to avoid being broken for a sixth successive time. That sparked the turnaround, as the Italian won the next seven games. But Panova again fought back and had another match point at 5-4 in the final set but hit a backhand wide. Vinci wasted her first match point when she hit a forehand long but secured the victory when Panova put a backhand volley wide, leaving the Italian in tears of joy. "The match is definitely up there in my top three," Panova said. "I had a couple of similar matches that were important and close and long and very tiring. "My serve wasnt with me today because I had a very low percentage of first serves and only one ace. So I had to play every point in a rally and thats not what I usually do. Im not very happy with my serve and I was losing my serve when I was serving for the match and during the set." Seventh-ranked Errani won the opening set comfortably but No. 236 Khromacheva seemed to grow in confidence and earned her first break in their match when Errani lobbed long after three delightful drop shot winners from the Russian. But Khromacheva failed to hold her service game and, although she broke again, a double fault handed Errani another break. From that point, Errani cruised, winning the next three games and sealing the match with a powerful forehand. Cheap Air Max 1 Wholesale .C. -- The Carolina Panthers announced Thursday theyve signed free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year contract, helping rebuild a depleted wide receiving corps. Paul George Shoes Wholesale . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/ . The Kelowna, B.C. rink made the announcement on their facebook page on Thursday night. Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Customize .com) - Many people at Eastern Washington are waiting to see if star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.SAN DIEGO -- Arizonas Brandon McCarthy went seven innings and won for just the second time this season, pitching the Diamondbacks past the Padres 2-1 on Friday night. McCarthy (2-10) limited San Diego to one run and six hits. He struck out seven with no walks as he beat the Padres for the second time this season and fourth in five career decisions. Addison Reed pitched the ninth inning for his 18th save in 21 chances. The Padres, who were no-hit by the Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants in their last game, were again challenged offensively. Tyson Ross (6-8) took the loss as the Padres continued a disturbing trend. In Ross last five starts the Padres have scored one run. The Padres cut Arizonas lead in half in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ross. He drove in Cameron Maybin who reached on a single and took third on a single by Alexi Amarista. San Diego squandered a chance to tie the game in the sixth when Chase Headley reached third with one out. But with the infield in, Will Venable grounded to Aaron Hill at second base and he erased Headley trying to score. Venable was retired when he broke for second base while Headley was in a rundown. The Diamondbacks broke the scoreless tie in the fourth when Paul Goldschmidt walked to open the inning, which preceded a single by Miguel Montero. They advanced to second and third on a wild pitch by Ross. David Peralta drove them both in with a sharp one-out single up thhe middle.dddddddddddd Martin Prado smacked a similar ball toward centre, but with Amarista covering second on a steal attempt by Peralta, he was in position to turn an inning-ending double play. Down 2-0, the Padres had an opportunity to cut into their deficit when Headley and Yasmani Grandal had consecutive one-out singles in the fourth inning. But Venable and Jake Goebbert struck out looking to squash the rally. The Padres got their first hit in 11 innings in the third when Ross bunted for a two-out single. Ross effort down the first base line was fielded by McCarthy but his throw was late and offline. Ross, the Padres second base runner over that 11-inning span, didnt go far. Everth Cabrera followed with a ground ball to shortstop to end the inning. NOTES: Diamondbacks SS Chris Owings was scratched from the lineup with a sore left shoulder. . Padres GM Kevin Towers will undergo surgery to repair a damaged right vocal cord on July 7. . Arizona manager Kirk Gibson attended Thursday nights tribute to Tony Gwynn. "It was a great celebration of Tony and what he meant to his team, this city and his fans," Gibson said. "He left a great legacy." . Padres OF Carlos Quentins sore left shoulder kept him out of the lineup. . Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (tender right shoulder) will play catch in three days. . Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (6-4, 3.87) faces Padres LHP Eric Stults (2-10, 5.49) on Saturday. ' ' '