Battling Dementieva hands Russia 2-1 lead

By Patrick Vignal

PARIS (Reuters) – Elena Dementieva beat France’s Amelie
Mauresmo 6-4 4-6 6-2 in a thrilling battle to give Russia a 2-1
lead in the Fed Cup final at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Dementieva, who put Russia ahead by beating Mary Pierce in
the opening singles on Saturday, showed more composure when it
mattered. Russia are now within reach of a second successive
final victory over France.

The combative Russian underlined her determination by
winning the final game to love, Mauresmo netting a return on
the first match point to bow out after two hours 42 minutes.

“I think I played my best tennis,” Dementieva said after
living up to her reputation as a formidable competitor.

“It was really tough. I’m exhausted but ever so happy.”

France must now win the second reverse singles, in which
Pierce was playing Anastasia Myskina, and the doubles.

“I was feeling really tired toward the end,” said Mauresmo.

“It’s not over yet. Mary can make it. I’ll go and take some
rest to be ready for the doubles.”

Mauresmo was expected to team up with Nathalie Dechy to
face the Russian pair of Dinara Safina and Vera Douchevina in
the doubles.

GOOD RALLIES

Neither player managed to hold serve until the eighth game
of a tight first set full of good rallies when Dementieva moved
ahead 5-3.

The previous game had featured a long complaint about a
line call from both Mauresmo and France captain Georges Goven.

Mauresmo’s concentration seemed to suffer from the incident
but she soon recovered, surviving three set points to hold her
serve for the first time in the match in the ninth game.

Dementieva then served for the set, earning another set
point with a superb forehand winner and converting it with
Mauresmo netting a forehand.

Cheered on by a partisan 15,000 crowd packing center court
on a sunny day in the French capital, Mauresmo reacted with an
early break in the second set.

Dementieva broke back in the fifth game with a superb
cross-court forehand winner and then leveled the set at 3-3 but
the Russian later dropped serve again at the worst possible
moment, losing the set by hitting a forehand long.

The tireless Russian was back in control in the decisive
set, opening up a 3-0 lead. Mauresmo won the next two games but
later doubled faulted to present her opponent with a 5-2 lead.

Dementieva served for the match, sealing victory in
merciless fashion.