MOSCOW -- Slovakia stunned heavily favoured Russia by jumping to a 2-0 lead after the opening singles in the Fed Cup semifinals on Saturday. Dominika Cibulkova rallied to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in the opening singles and Daniela Hantuchova followed up with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Maria Kirilenko to put Slovakia one point away from advancing to the final for the first time since winning the title in 2002. Reverse singles and a doubles match are on Sunday. "We are very close to win this tie," Slovak captain Matej Liptak said. "But we must be ready for tomorrow. We need just one point but it will not be easy. Like today, when all matches were very open, we are facing tough matches. But we will have three opportunities to finish the tie." Hantuchova, who was chosen over the higher-ranked Magdalena Rybarikova to back up Cibulkova, broke Kirilenko twice in the first set and in the seventh game of the second. She sealed the win with a forehand winner on her first match point on indoor clay at Krylatskoye Ice Stadium. "I worked really hard for coming here with a great training preparation," Hantuchova said. "And I moved really good on the court. I think, I was able to do things that my captain told me." Hantuchova improved to 35-16 in the Fed Cup. "I tried my best but they were just stronger than us today," Kirilenko said. "I practiced with her (Hantuchova) several times this year and I can say that today she played very solid tennis and it was difficult for me to challenge her." Earlier, Pavlyuchenko broke decisively in the 11th game to take the first set. Cibulkova led 4-0 to comfortably win the second, and she broke in the seventh game of the decider before closing it out on her first match point when Pavlychenkova returned wide. "I wasnt aggresive in the first set and the real match for me started from the second set," Cibulkova said. "I found my rhythm and served much better. I can say it was an extremely tough match." Pavlyuchenkova, who won her fourth career title two weeks ago at Monterrey in Mexico, said she couldnt find her rhythm and struggled with the switch from a hard court to clay. "It was a tough match, both physically and mentally," Pavlyuchenkova said. "Dominika has played a very good match. After making quite a number of double faults in the first set, she improved her serve in the second set and gave me practically no chance in the third." Four-time champion Russia has reached the semifinal stage for the seventh consecutive year. Slovakia is in its first since 2002. The winner will face two-time defending champion Czech Republic or Italy in the final on Nov. 2-3. wholesale jerseys .com) - Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jarvis Jones has a concussion. cheap jerseys from china . 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Jake Gardiner had two assists and Jonathan Bernier stopped 32 shots.Shin-Soo Choo passed his physical with the Texas Rangers, clearing the way for the completion of the outfielders $130 million, seven-year deal. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday night that Choo passed his physical and would be formally introduced in Texas on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the team. The Rangers scheduled a press conference Friday afternoon. The said only that it was to "announce a major free agent signing" and provided no other details. Choos deal, worth about $18.6 million per season, is the third-highest this off-season. The deal was agreed upon last weekend, but was pending the completion of the physical. Second baseman Robinson Cano got $240 million over 10 years from Seattle and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, like Choo, a client of agent Scott Boras, signed a $153 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees. Choo started 150 games in centre field and had a .423 on-base percentage last season for Cincinnati in his only year with the Reds. He hit .285 with 21 homers and 20 stolen bases and scored 107 runs as their primary leadoff hitter.dddddddddddd The Rangers will likely use Choo in left field because they have Leonys Martin in centre and Alex Rios in right. And Choo could be their leadoff hitter. The deal comes a month after the Rangers acquired five-time All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder in a trade with Detroit for second baseman Ian Kinsler, their primary leadoff hitter last season. Both Fielder and Choo will be under contract through the 2020 season. The Rangers, who won their only AL pennants in 2010 and 2011, missed the playoffs for the first time in four years. Texas scored only 730 runs, its fewest in a non-strike season since 1992. Choos deal calls for salaries of $14 million in 2014 and 2015, $21 million in 2016 and 2017, and $20 million in each of the last three years of the deal. There are also performance bonuses and a limited no-trade clause. Choo has a .288 career batting average and .389 OBP with 104 home runs and 427 RBIs in 853 major league games for Seattle (2005-06), Cleveland (2006-12) and Cincinnati. The 31-year-old South Korean had at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases three times, including last season. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '