Tennis: Ukraine beat Australia in qualifier

MELBOURNE: Olga Savchuk and Lesia Tsurenko propelled Ukraine into the Fed Cup World Group, clinching the deciding doubles against their Australian opponents Jarmila Groth and Anastasia Rodionova.

The Ukrainian pair claimed a 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 win to seal a 3-2 vi-ctory in the playoff.

Meanwhile, German Andrea Petkovic’s victory over Melanie Oudin of the US saw the 17-time winners drop out of the top flight for the first time in the competition’s 48-year history.

Petkovic needed just one hour 18 minutes to beat 19-year-old Oudin 6-2, 6-3.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th,  2011.