22 Nov 2003 - Olympic Stadium, Moscow, FRA - Alex Nicholas
USA v FRA
Mary Pierce Digs Deep for Three Set Epic Win Over Meghann Shaughnessy
One of the greatest records in Fed Cup history could well come to an
end this weekend. Martina Navratilova has never been on a losing US
Fed Cup squad before, however, following Mary Pierce’s courageous
three-sets win over Meghann Shaughnessy today, the 2003 US Fed Cup
campaign is now perilously close to finishing.
At the end of the opening day’s play in the 2003 Fed Cup Final – the
season-ending finale to the women’s professional season – France finds
itself 2-0 up following Amelie Mauresmo’s 64 63 victory over Lisa
Raymond and Pierce’s fascinating 63 36 86 win over Meghann Shaughnessy.
The French team is now one point away from a memorable win over the
United States, which would not only end Navratilova’s impressive
record, but would also put a halt to the USA’s run of 10 straight
wins against France in Fed Cup competition.
Of the 10 previous Fed Cup encounters between these two great tennis
nations, the US has won all 10 with the last win occurring eight years
ago in the 1995 World Group semifinals. This tie, however, sees a number
of significant changes to the composition of each squad. While the US
team is perhaps without its strongest possible player combination, the
French team is arguably stronger than ever.
With world No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo firing on all cylinders, and three-time
Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce demonstrating an impressive return to
form, Guy Forget must surely be very happy with his team line-up.
Some may have questioned his appointing Mary Pierce to the team at the
start of their semifinal clash with Russia, however following Pierce’s
magnificent performances this week, any criticism must surely have been
silenced.
In all three of her rubbers so far this week (against Myskina, Zvonareva
and Shaughnessy) she has at times demonstrated some of the form that took
her to No. 3 in the world three years ago. Despite losing to Myskina,
she did come within one point of victory, and in her wins against Zvonareva
and Shaughnessy she displayed resolve, passion and more importantly a
hunger for victory.
Her encounter today was the closest of all her matches so far in Moscow.
In the first two sets, breaks of serve came in the eighth game – Pierce
clinching the first, and Shaughnessy snatching the second. Both players
battled extremely hard from the back of the court, with Pierce’s hard
and flat groundstrokes met by Shaughnessy’s high-floating spin shots.
Pierce, as always, was looking to hit winners early in the rally, while
Shaughnessy was quite content to keep the ball in play, moving Pierce
around the court in the hope that her previous six sets of tennis would
eventually take their toll. The 2000 Roland Garros champion, however,
managed to call upon some hidden reserves.
The third set went right down to the wire, with both players playing at
the top of their games. It was Pierce, however, who managed to get the
slight upper hand. Spurred on by a loud French contingent, she eventually
forced the error from the American, a stray backhand hitting the top of
the net, thus sealing a French victory.
With this impressive win, Pierce has once again re-established herself at
the top of the game, and in her first appearance in a Fed Cup squad for
six years, she has certainly proved what a useful team player she can be.
Pierce is the only player in this year’s French contingent who was on
the victorious 1997 team, and will now no doubt be hopeful for another
French win here in Moscow.
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