Fed Cup: the draw
Mauresmo first on court for France
The draw has been made for the Fed Cup semifinal in Aix-en-Provence
between France and Spain:
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) v Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Mary Pierce (FRA) v Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) v Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)
Mary Pierce (FRA) v Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Severine Beltrame/Nathalie Dechy (FRA)
v Arantxa Parra-Santonja/Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo (ESP)
It was a glorious summer's day in Aix en Provence, as the French and
Spanish Fed Cup teams gathered on the patio of the city hall around
lunchtime. The players and captains waited patiently under warm conditions,
a taste of what will await them on court over the weekend, for the draw.
Everyone was getting ready for a big weekend of fierce competition at the
Aix Country Club, where the two teams will be fighting for a spot in the
final of the 2005 Fed Cup.
Am赌lie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce, who made the the trip from London earlier
in the week after a very successful grass court fortnight at Wimbledon, have
only had a few days to adapt to the medium-fast greenset laid at the Aix
Country Club. This lack of time to prepare comfortably on the centre court
is most likely to be compensated, however, by the huge amount of confidence
gained at Wimbledon.
Singles semifinalist and doubles runner-up at Wimbledon, Mauresmo, the No. 3
ranked player in the world, will naturally lead France in a tie where the
host team is the logical favorite. The draw offered her the chance to open
the tie on Saturday against Spain’s No. 2 player, Anabel Medina Garrigues,
a player she has defeated in both previous encounters.
“I’m looking forward to it. I feel good, and I’d like to set the tone
tomorrow” said Mauresmo who hasn’t played in Fed Cup since the 2004
semifinal tie where France outplayed Spain. After opting to miss the
2004 Final, Am赌lie had to watch the quarterfinal tie against Austria
this year from the courtside, due to an injury. “I’m really happy to
be back in the team, and I hope we can leave Aix as the winners, as this
would give us the opportunity to play a very exciting final at Roland
Garros” Mauresmo added.
As for Mary Pierce, her strong comeback amongst the world’s elite players,
after a final at Roland Garros and a quarterfinal at Wimbledon, where she
troubled eventual champion Venus Williams, makes her a strong No. 2 for
France. However, her recent loss to her first opponent, Spanish No. 1
Nuria Llagostera Vives, a couple of months ago in Charleston, may not
give her a psychological edge. “I really enjoy the atmosphere amongst
the French team members, and I feel ready to go out there and try to
impose my game” Pierce said.
Spain’s captain Miguel Margets is naturally aware that his team is the
underdog. “But we all really believe in our chances of scoring an upset.
The playing conditions suit us well, although the strong winds will not
make it easy” he said.
If all the participants are proud and excited to be part of this opportunity
to reach the Fed Cup final, none is more so than Severine Beltrame. The
pretty 25 year-old Frenchwoman is due to play her first-ever Fed Cup tie,
in her hometown, being born and raised in Aix. “For me, it’s a dream
come true” she declared. A victory can only make the dream, a better
one...
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