19 Nov 2003 - Olympic Stadium, Moscow, RUS - Alex Nicholas
RUS v FRA
Myskina Levels Proceedings 1-1 in Moscow
Spectators at Moscow’s Olympic stadium were treated to a fascinating
session of tennis today, as the semifinals of the 2003 Fed Cup competition
got underway.
Following Meghann Shaughnessy’s epic three set tussle with 17-year-old young
gun Kirsten Flipkens earlier in the day, the Muscovite crowd was treated with
yet another marathon match later on, as Anastasia Myskina – the current
Russian No. 1 – took on Mary Pierce, who was making a return to Fed Cup
competition for the first time in six years.
In a topsy-turvy match that saw the lead change hands a number of times,
Myskina eventually prevailed 46 76(2) 75 in two hours 22 minutes to level
the Russia v France semifinal tie at 1-1.
In a re-match of their round-of-16 appearance at the 2003 US Open, both
Pierce and Myskina took to the court with a sense of determination. In
Myskina’s case, she needed to pull out all the stops to ensure that
Russia would go into the second day’s play on level terms with the
French. Earlier, 19-year-old Vera Zvonareva had suffered an emphatic
loss to world No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo, which meant there was added pressure
and expectation for the Russian No. 1.
In their last encounter at the US Open, Myskina claimed a relatively
comfortable win over Pierce, prevailing 76(2) 61. Today, however, a much
fitter and sharper Pierce proved a much tougher opponent. Serving hard
and moving speedily round the court, she managed to claim the first set
64 after 37 minutes.
Spurred on, however, by a passionate home crowd, Myskina refused to give
up and, with her trademark forehand starting to find its zone, she managed
to stay in contention. Pierce was not without her chances, however, and
managed to break the Myskina serve to go 5-4 up. She came within one point
of claiming the rubber when serving at 40-30, however a misjudged forehand
let her down, floating just long of the Myskina baseline.
Having recovered the break, Myskina managed to steer the set into a tiebreak,
which, after a run of hard-fought exchanges, she eventually claimed 6-2.
The third set was just as up-and-down as the previous two, with each player
having a number of opportunities to take a hold of the match. It was Myskina,
however, who broke at the crucial moment and found herself serving for the
match at 6-5. With the help of the vociferous crowd she held her nerve to
claim this important victory.
Leaving the crowd, she was greeted by an ecstatic old friend – none other
than former Russian President Boris Yeltsin – who congratulated her with
open arms.
Myskina commented after the match: “This is definitely one of the most
satisfying victories of my career. I played good. Mary played very well
in the first set and I’m really happy that I brought the point for my
team. The crowd was awesome. I think that was really a key point for
today … they helped me a lot and I really appreciate that they came
today.”
Myskina has the night to let her body recover from today’s exertions before
she returns to the court tomorrow afternoon to take on Amelie Mauresmo.
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