06 Mar 2005 -
Hall Rhenus Sport, Strasbourg, FRA - Lewis Cumberland - FRA v SUI
Mathieu the Hero as France Wins
In electric scenes in Strasbourg, Paul-Henri Mathieu won the decisive
fifth rubber against Thomas Johansson to hand France a place in the
quarterfinals. The Frenchman's 61 64 67(4) 64 victory over the 2002
Australian Open champion gave his country the vital third point of the
weekend, and helped erase the pain of losing in five sets in the fifth
rubber of France's clash with Russia in the 2002 Davis Cup Final.
France now travels to Russia in July, in a rematch of that 2002 final.
Mathieu started off the match with a very high level of intensity and
was extremely confident. He served a love game; Johansson on the other
hand had more trouble winning his serve. The tone of the match was set,
as Mathieu was playing inside the court moving forward, while Johansson
had no choice but defend the best he could although there was not much
to be done versus an on-fire Mathieu. The Frenchman took his opponent's
serve two consecutive times and won the first set 61.
Mathieu was now in full flight, although Johansson was far from being
embarrassed. Both players held their serve until the seventh game of the
second set. Johansson started that game off with a double fault which gave
Mathieu a glimpse at a break. The glimpse became reality three points later
when the Swede lost his service game without clocking up a single point. The
following service game for Mathieu was spotless as Mathieu took a 5-3
lead.
Johansson held his own in the next game, but there was no stopping "Polo." The
Strasbourg native was producing text-book tennis, solid from the back court,
hitting winners and serving perfectly. And after an hour and 23 minutes of
play, France was only a set away from a quarterfinal meeting with Russia.
However everyone remembered the fifth rubber of the 2002 Davis Cup Final
in Paris between France and Russia - Mathieu had been two-sets-to-love up
over Mikhail Youzhny when he got struck by lightning. Would history repeat
itself?
No, by the look of the first game of the third set, as Johansson was
immediately broken. The Swede needed to react or else, so he did, and broke
back instantly to tie the third set at one game all. At two games all,
Johansson fought off two break points but not three, and Mathieu once again
went ahead 3-2 and then 4-2 to the applause of a frantic crowd, waiting for
their boy to give France the winning point.
Serves were held up to 5-3. Johansson started the ninth game off with a
double fault, but despite the pressure, the Swede held his serve. Mathieu
was now serving for the match. He was nervous, understandably so, and was
not able to cope. Johansson was able to save two match points, and broke
the Frenchman to give Sweden another chance. Both players proceeded to hold
their serve and force a tiebreaker. At 3-2 in the tiebreak, Mathieu served
a double fault, and Johansson capitalised to win the set.
Johansson took on his opponent's serve in the third game of the fourth set
for a 3-1 lead. He preserved his advantage until 4-3, when Mathieu broke
back to tie it all up at 4-4. Showing mental strength, the Frenchman was
now playing again as he did in the first two sets, dictating play deep
into the Johansson court, sending him left and right. Mathieu stood strong,
and two match points later, France had clinched a quarterfinal spot, and
Paul-Henri had broken the curse of losing a match after leading
two-sets-to-love.
The quarterfinals will be in Russia in July. Between then and now many
things can happen. One thing is sure; the tie will have a theme of revenge,
as on one side standing tall will be Marat Safin and Youzhny. And everyone
remembers what happened last time...
"It was great to win this match, in front of my home crowd, and to be able
to give the decisive point to my team." said Mathieu. "Our team is a real
team and that is why we are strong," he continued. "There is no other
competition that can make me feel so good or so bad."
--
雨過腥聞血，風旋雪裹身。
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