France 2-0 up Against Spain
24 Nov 2004 - Krylatskoe Ice Stadium, Moscow, RUS - Jo Sirman - FRA v ESP
France 2-0 up Against Spain
Nathalie Dechy picked up where Tatiana Golovin left off on Wednesday,
defeating Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 62 64 to give France a confidence-boosting
2-0 lead overnight in their Fed Cup semifinal against Spain.
Dechy was the stronger player from the outset in the one-hour-nine-minute
match, forcing the Spaniard into a purely defensive role that sapped her
spirits.
It completed a perfect day for the French, following last-minute adjustments
to their singles line-up in the wake of the withdrawal of the injured Mary
Pierce, who watched from the bench. Captain Guy Forget's faith in Dechy and
Golovin now looks to be sound.
Although there were breaks of serve for both players in the opening set, it
was world No. 21 Dechy, buoyed by teammate Golovin's win in the first
singles, who got the upper hand. She rushed to win the first set 62 in 28
minutes after taking control from the middle of the court and forcing Sanchez
Lorenzo, ranked No. 52, into the corners.
There was a brief flicker from Sanchez Lorenzo in the second set after she
broke Dechy in the second game, but the Frenchwoman levelled for 3-2. The
more aggressive Dechy became, the more dejected Sanchez Lorenzo looked, and
no amount of encouragement from Spanish captain Miguel Margets could stop her
losing her serve again in the seventh game.
With that break, Dechy effectively won the match, although Sanchez Lorenzo
clung on in vain, holding her serve for 4-5 and then calling a trainer to
attend to a left groin injury. Even so, Dechy wrapped up the match in the
next game, taking the set 64.
The stats had plenty to say in a disappointing day for the Spaniards. Sanchez
Lorenzo made 27 unforced errors (to Dechy掇 17) and only 43 per cent of her
first serves found target, compared to 65 per cent for her French conqueror.
Spain had been hopeful of exploiting France's injury problems before play
began. But now the nation that has lifted the Fed Cup trophy five times must
win all three of Thursday's matches to progress to the final.
Defending champion France, meanwhile, now only needs one more victory to
ensure the nation reaches the final for the second successive year. If
this happens, France will also retain its No. 1 position on the Fed Cup
Nations Ranking whatever the outcome of the final.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 140.112.234.152
FRA_hotties 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
115
256