05 Mar 2005 -
Hall Rhenus Sport, Strasbourg, FRA - Lewis Cumberland - FRA v SWE
France Eases Through in the Doubles
Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra won a four-set battle in Saturday's
doubles rubber, giving France a 2-1 lead by defeating Simon Aspelin and
Jonas Bjorkman 76(5) 64 67(4) 64 in three hours 28 minutes.
After a respectful minute of silence in honour of the Tsunami victims,
Michael Llodra got the third rubber of the 2005 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
first round tie under way.
The first six games went with serve with only Clement having to face a
break point. The seventh game was when the experienced Jonas Bjorkman
and his sidekick decided to make a move and Clement's serve was duly
broken. The French pride was stung. The Frenchmen immediately broke back
and moved 5-4 ahead. Aspelin fought off a set point in the next game and
then both teams held to take it into a tiebreak. Aspelin's double fault at
1-1 was sufficient for France to go on to seize the first set 7-6(5) after
61 minutes of play.
The local boys took full advantage of the first break opportunity in the
second set as Aspelin, stuck in no mans land, was hammered by a sliced
backhand signed Llodra, who then served two aces to give his team a 4-2
advantage. It was soon back to 4-4 as the experienced Swedes broke Clement's
serve.
Battle was declared, and with the help of the crowd, and Clement's talent,
the Guy Forget's men once again broke the Swedes and led 5-4. Thanks to a
high-quality first serve, Lodra served out to take the second set for France
6-4..
In simple terms, if the Swedes wanted to stay in the match, they could not
allow the third set to go by. On the other hand, Guy's boys did not want to
play a fourth set. Therefore the tension was quite high, and very few risks
were taken on either side.
At 3-2 for the first time in the match Llodra needed to fight off break
points. The first was saved by a Clement volley, but the second was
converted by the visitors to take a 4-2 lead.
However, the cocktail of defence and determination allowed the French to
break back instantly and then boosted by an uncontainable crowd, Clement
served two consecutive aces and brought his country back to 4-4. The next
four service games were held and a second tie-breaker loomed.
The Swedes took an early 3-0 lead, the French came back to 3-3, but the
Swedes proved to be stronger mentally as they only lost one more point
and took the tie-breaker 7-4.
The tension dropped a little at the beginning of the fourth set, but was
quickly revived after a call by the referee made Forget, along with the
entire arena, furious. There was lots of talk, but the decision remained.
It triggered the French revival in terms of attitude. France was presented
with a break point as Bjorkman served at 3-4, which it converted thanks to
an unforced error from Bjorkman. Serving at 5-3 Llodra had his team's destiny
in his own hands but this was too much for him to handle.
The Frenchman served his second double fault of the match allowing Sweden
to break back. Aspelin, the least experienced Davis Cup player of the four,
however was not able to hold serve and France had won the match.
"I played well but as did Mika, and doubles is always played by a team." said
Clement.
"Both of us played great today, especially Arnaud. It's good to win a tight
game, a real confidence boost." said a satisfied Llodra.
"We felt we could come back into the match at any time not just at the end
of the third set." said a disappointed Bjorkman.
With a 2-1 lead, the showdown between Grosjean and Joachim Johansson, the
teams' number ones, tomorrow could be decisive for France, whereas Sweden
simply must win both rubbers.
--
"L'avenir du rock a un nom : Muse" (Les inrockuptibles)
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