Spain Battles Croatia on Day Two
by Prip
Day 2 of the Federation Cup match-up between Italy, Spain, Germany
and Croatia. Today would see the lowest collectively-ranked team
against the highest, Croatia versus Spain. In a surprise turn of
events to most, Sasa Hirszon decided to play Iva Majoli instead of
Silvija Talaja. Little mystery there -- Silvija had been playing
terribly anyway, and Jelena Kostanic wanted revenge on Conchita
Martinez. The youngster had been frustrated against the many tricky
shots the Spaniard had thrown against her in the Australian Open,
losing that first encounter 6-4 6-4, but had come away hungry for
another chance. The crowd was delighted to see the 1997 Roland Garros
champ walk onto the court, considering Majoli is still a more familiar
name than Talaja, despite the fact that Iva has only just resurfaced
on the tour. Facing more mental problems than anything else, everyone
waited to see how she would do against Arantxa.
Iva Majoli (CRO) versus Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP)
The match started like it was going to be a demolition. Arantxa was a
clear top dog here in Bari, and looked more like she was on vacation
than playing crucial tennis for her country. Then, to everyone's
surprise, even the initially rather indifferent-looking Croatian
team, Iva started putting more sting in her shots, clearly knowing
where and how she was going to hit the ball. Arantxa looked a little
shell-shocked, and all of a sudden found herself three games lost and
trailing 2-3. Even more surprising was that, while at first, Iva got
more and more frustrated watching would-be winners come back with so
much pace and placement, she was now actually getting clear winners
off the Human Wall. Arantxa soon got it in her head that she wasn't
playing a mere pushover, though, and got into gear. Spurred on by the
Croatian team who were now on the edge of their seats, Iva continued
to play tennis like she did 3 years ago.
Arantxa got the break and consolidated it to go up 5-3. Not satisfied
to simply slink away like a broken spirit, Iva fought hard, and
actually managed to force some errors off Arantxa's racquet! She
managed to stave off losing the first set, holding serve for 5-4, but
then started to make some silly mistakes, and against Arantxa,
unforced errors are not a luxury many can afford. Arantxa took the
first set 6-4 after a sloppy game from Iva.
Both players started the second set well, and even the average-sized
crowd was cheering for their respective favourites. Both players held
serve to open the set, but Arantxa got the early break and
consolidated it to go up 3-1. Looking frustrated, a little tired (no
doubt no longer used to the mental and physical demands) but still
determined, Iva had a quick wipe-down with the towel, thinking hard
about the task at hand. After a short struggle, Iva held serve to
bring it to 2-3, but that would be the last game that she got off the
Spanish Number 2. Her forehand started to become erratic, and Arantxa
quickly picked up on it. Targeting Iva's forehand side, Arantxa got
error after error off her opponent's racquet, and took the last 3
games to finish up the match 6-4 6-2. Not a bad match at all, but Iva
definitely ran out of steam at the end while Arantxa, smelling blood,
finished it off quickly.
Something very nice happened after the match, though. I happened to be
walking behind Arantxa, and of course, the many kids and ballkids were
following her, asking for autographs. Just as she was about to enter
the "restricted area," a Japanese lady walked up to her, looking all
excited. As I came nearer, I heard Arantxa say, "Okay, then you come
with me." Not believing what was happening, the Japanese girl went off
with Arantxa and her teammates. Later, I happened to see the Japanese
girl again, and she was proudly looking at the Spanish Federation Cup
hat that Arantxa had signed and given to her. She had actually been in
Napoli, but when she heard that her "heroine" Arantxa was in Bari
playing Fed Cup, she came for one day just to see her. She had written
a letter on the way, and was delighted to have been able to give it to
the Spaniard. Sanchez fans will certainly know that Arantxa has always
been very gracious to her fans, and the good news is, unlike some
other players, she still is.
Jelena Kostanic (CRO) versus Conchita Martinez (ESP)
Round Two. I could almost hear the bell ring when the two players
walked up to the court. Looking very serious even during the warm-up,
Jelena was definitely up for a battle. Even her coach, who usually
looks as relaxed as he would be by the beach ("It's not my match," he
says casually), was looking a little more tense than usual.
Spain won the toss, and Conchita elected to serve. Jelena jumped at
the chance to break early, and got the first four points with
extremely aggressive tennis. In the first 5 minutes, the crowd had
turned into Croatian supporters. Jelena couldn't keep her accuracy
up, though, and Conchita's "tricky shots" started to wreak havoc with
her. Constantly talking to herself (like her fellow Croat and idol
Goran Ivanisevic who plays at the same club as her), Jelena chastised
herself after every error, eyes squinted in concentration and
determination. After losing 4 games in a row, she finally managed to
hold her forehand together long enough to hold serve and bring it to
2-4.
Jelena had been working on hitting the high double-handed backhands,
and was having no problems with that, thanks to her stronger-looking
abdominal muscles and shoulders, and of course, her footspeed could
always be relied on to get her on good position. The youngster was
doing well to hit the ball early and on the rise, but was having a
bit of trouble with her forehand. Conchita herself had a little more
trouble playing a player more consistent and less flamboyant than
Tathiana Garbin. Jelena controlled her tendency to be impatient, took
her time constructing points, and managed to break back.
Unfortunately, that was as far as she could last mentally. In a total
lapse of concentration, she committed unforced error after unforced
error, and gave the break back. She fought hard in the next game,
pinning Conchita to the baseline and somehow getting the short
response, but it was too little too late, and Conchita took the first
set 6-3.
The troubles for Jelena continued into the next set, her shots
missing the lines by inches. Growing increasingly frustrated, she
watched game after game slip away, until she finally managed to hold
herself together long enough, cutting down on unforced errors to
bring it to 4-1. Playing like she had nothing to lose, Jelena played
recklessly, and while that gave her one more game for 2-4, her
forehand started running wild, and Conchita punctuated match point
with an ace.
Jelena Kostanic/Iva Majoli versus Magui Serna/Christina Torrens-Valero
Time for the Spanish doubles pair to come on court again, and Iva
Majoli certainly seemed to be the odd one on the doubles court.
Jelena was again absolutely beautiful on the court, and this time,
her partner was doing well to keep up with her. The Spanish pair were
no slouches either, but Jelena and Iva were far too good for them, and
after yet another entertaining doubles match which dragged a little
too long in the end due to errors from both Jelena and Iva, the
Croats took their first victory of the day, 6-3 7-6(3).
That gave the Spanish the clear lead in the standings. The next day
would see all four countries in action, Croatia against Italy and
Germany against Spain. No doubt, if things go the way I think they
will, the first match of the day would be the highlight of the
tournament for me, with Jelena Kostanic playing Tathiana Garbin.
Elsewhere in the world, the Czech Republic continued their success
from the previous day, defeating Switzerland 2-1. Kveta Hrdlickova
defeated Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-1 7-6(4), Patty Schnyder equaled it
for her team by defeating Denisa Chladkova 6-2 6-2, but Daja Bedanova
and Kveta Hrdlickova clinched it for their country by defeating
Emmanuelle and Patty 4-6 6-1 6-1.
In Moscow, no surprises as France got a 2-1 victory against
Australia. Nathalie Dechy defeated Nicole Pratt 6-4 5-7 6-2, and
Jelena Dokic once again shone for her country (despite initially
refusing to play for it in the Olympics) by defeating Sandrine Testud
6-7(4) 7-5 6-3. Julie Halard-Decugis and Nathalie Tauziat once again
waltzed through their opposition in the doubles match, though, with a
6-0 7-6(3) win against Alicia Molik and Rennae Stubbs.
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Last updated 26 September 2015
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