04 Mar 2005 - Hall Rhenus Sport, Strasbourg, FRA - Lewis Cumberland -
FRA v SWE
Sweden Back on Track
The France v Sweden first round tie ends day one with one win apiece. Thomas
Johansson drew the visitors level with a surprisingly easy win over Sebastien
Grosjean, prevailing 64 64 76(1) to ensure that Sweden are still very much in
the tie following Joachim Johansson's earlier loss to Paul-Henri Mathieu.
In the first set, Thomas Johansson was a lot quicker to get into the game
mentally. His domination was clear, as the Swede was never troubled on his
serve. Indeed Grosjean never made it to deuce on Johansson's serve.
On the other hand the French No.1 had to fight off break opportunities in
three out of five service games. So many opportunities could not go
unrewarded, and Johansson broke Grosjean in the fifth game. This break was
sufficient for the Swede to win the first set 6-4 in 47 minutes.
The beginning of the second set witnessed Grosjean's first breakpoint after
56 minutes of play. The Frenchman seemed to have come out in the second set
with a different attitude and despite three missed breakpoints, there was no
doubt that a metamorphosis took place in between sets.
Grosjean was now able not only to defend but also dictate play, winning his
service games in a much more easily. Unfortunately, for him, the
metamorphosis did not last long as the Swede broke again to lead 3-2 and
4-3.
It was now time for "Gros" to try and create something on Johansson's serve
if he wanted to stay in the second set. However the Frenchman seemed to be
somewhat out of gas after only a set and a half, while "T.J." kept on
playing his game making his opponent cover every inch of the court.
Grosjean held serve to love at 3-5 thanks to some solid serves. Leading 5-4,
40-0, Johansson missed three set pointss, and despite a beautifully touched
backhand lob by Grosjean at deuce, the Swede stayed in the game and took the
second set 6-4 in 49 minutes.
With a two set lead, it was unclear how "Seb" was going to be able to come
back. Solid serves would be a necessity, and with two aces in the third game
Grosjean was able to hold serve, but having lost his serve in the opening
game, was already a break behind.
The crowd decided to try and boost Grosjean, and it seemed to help. Grosjean
managed to break back and take the next two games to lead 4-2. At 4-2 with
the help of an electric crowd, Grosjean's confidence was boosted and he
served out to love to move 5-2 ahead.
Thomas Johansson held on to his serve and broke back after a disappointing
service game for the Frenchman at 5-3. This break put a splinter in his
confidence and a band-aid on Johansson's,who seized a window of opportunity
to come back to 5-5.
It was now do or die for Grosjean, and with all the pressure on his
shoulders, the Frenchman was able to hold serve and move ahead 6-5.
Johansson held his to take the set into a tiebreaker. The tiebreak started
well for Sweden as Johansson was quickly 4-1 up. Seemingly unstoppable, he
took the sixth point with a commanding volley, and the next after an unforced
error from the tired Frenchman. The Swede now had 5 match points to seal it
but one was enough.
At the moment, Saturday's doubles action will feature Arnaud Clement and
Michael Llodra against Simon Aspelin and doubles veteran Jonas Bjorkman.
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"L'avenir du rock a un nom : Muse" (Les inrockuptibles)
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