Williams Levels Tie for USA
Venus Williams said that she feels even more ‘jolly’ than usual now that
she is back playing as part of the United States Fed Cup team, and after she
levelled matters against Slovenia in Saturday’s second rubber, it is easy to
see why.
Williams was in devastating form as she brushed aside Slovenian number two
Katerina Srebotnik 61 62 to bring the tie level after Tin Pisnik had given
the home side an early lead.
Encouraged by the 1-0 scoreline, the crowd here in Portoroz were clearly
expecting Srebotnik to roll over Williams to really put the cat among the
pigeons, but the former World No. 1 was in no mood to let that happen.
She racked up a 5-0 lead in double-quick time and it was all Srebotnik could
do just to get a game on the board. The second set was more competitive, but
Williams was always in charge.
“I’m very proud for the team, for all the effort that we gave, and I’m proud
of Lisa too because she really battled out there,” said Williams.
“I’m very excited about starting out tomorrow – I really want to go out
there and play really well and continue the play that I did today and
hopefully give my team a lead.”
Slovenian captain Mima Jausovec had ruffled a few feathers in the American
team yesterday when she visibly celebrated the fact that her number one player
Tina Pisnik had been drawn to meet United States number two Lisa Raymond in
the opening rubber. Apparently, she had good reason to do so. Pisnik, 31st in
the WTA rankings, defeated Raymond 75 64 to send the packed home support wild,
and really make a match of this Fed Cup first round tie.
“It was an unbelievable feeling, that was what we were hoping for and our
dream came true” said Pisnik, who will play Venus in the first match tomorrow.
“I don’t get opportunities to play top players every day so to play Venus
at home, on clay, with heavy balls, I think I have a good chance. I’ll go out
there, give it my best, and hopefully we will get a good result like today.”
Under heavy, grey skies with rain falling intermittently, the conditions were
perfect for Pisnik. She started like a train, reeling off the first three games
of the match to establish an early lead, but Raymond found her range and
broke back to narrow the deficit to 3-2. It didn’t last however, and when
Pisnik broke again for a 5-2 lead, she looked to have the set in her pocket.
Raymond had promised to fight for every ball beforehand though, and she was
good to her word, again breaking the Pisnik serve to level the set at 5 games
all. At that point, Raymond’s nerves seemed to fail somewhat as Pisnik’s
resolve strengthened. The Slovenian held to lead 6-5, and then, with her
backhand slice cleaning the baseline on more than one occasion, she broke to
take the set 7-5.
The second set followed a similarly topsy-turvy story. Pisnik established the
early break and then lost it, but she always seemed the more confident of the
two players on the slow red clay, and she broke the American’s serve again
to take the match and a 1-0 lead for Slovenia.
With the reverse singles and the doubles to come on Sunday, it is still
anyone’s match.
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