By ITF
November 29 2004

Russia has won its first Fed Cup title with a 3-2 defeat of France in Moscow. Anastasia Myskina, a late replacement for Elena Likhovtseva, teamed with Vera Zvonareva for a 7-6(5) 7-5 victory in two hours, 13 minutes over Emilie Loit and Marion Bartoli. Despite its defeat to Russia in the 2004 Fed Cup final, France has secured the No. 1 year-end ranking on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking for the second successive year. France has held the top ranking since its victory in the 2003 final. Russia, who captured its first ever Fed Cup title, climbs three places to occupy the No. 2 ranking.

Russia becomes the tenth different nation to win the Fed Cup trophy.

This is the first time for six years that the Fed Cup Final has been decided by the doubles rubber. The last time was in 1998, when Spain defeated Switzerland 3-2 in Geneva.

The 2004 Fed Cup World Group Final between Russia and France was played 27-28 November on indoor carpet at the Krylatskoe Ice Stadium, Moscow, Russia.

Russia defeated France 3-2

Saturday 27 November

Nathalie Dechy (FRA) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 3-6 7-6(4) 8-6
Anastasia Myskina (RUS) d. Tatiana Golovin (FRA) 6-4 7-6(5)

Sunday 28 November

Anastasia Myskina (RUS) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Tatiana Golovin (FRA) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 6-4 6-1
Anastasia Myskina/Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Marion Bartoli/Emilie Loit (FRA) 7-6(5)
7-5




Rank Nation Points Played Prev.ranking

1 FRANCE 30960.00 14 [1]0
2 RUSSIA 28537.50 14 [5]3+
3 SPAIN 15355.00 12 [2]1-
4 SLOV. REP. 13067.50 10 [4]0
5 BELGIUM 12112.50 11 [6]1+
6 U.S.A. 11922.50 8 [3]3-
7 AUSTRIA 10435.00 10 [7]0
8 ITALY 7050.00 9 [8]0
9 ARGENTINA 5050.00 11 [9]0
10 INDONESIA 3869.50 24 [12]2+
11 GERMANY 3675.00 10 [10]1-
12 JAPAN 3307.50 17 [13]1+
13 CROATIA 3160.00 8 [11]2-
14 THAILAND 3109.50 20 [14]0
15 SWITZERL. 2870.00 10 [15]0
16 CANADA 2837.50 20 [16]0
17 SLOVENIA 2762.50 13 [17]0
18 CZECH Rep. 2390.00 9 [18]0
19 AUSTRALIA 2200.00 11 [19]0
20 BRAZIL 2177.50 18 [20]0