Tennis

Aussies & Spain Locked At 1-1

Sunday 7th February 2010

Author: LMSC & Wires

Photographer:

Australia and Spain are deadlocked at 1-1 after a drama-filled opening night in their Fed Cup World Group II tie at Memorial Drive in Adelaide.

After a shaky start Samantha Stosur gave the Australians the start they needed with a 2-6 6-1 6-4 success over Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez -her first win over the talented Spaniard in their three outings.

Spanish world No.32 Anabel Medina Garrigues then put the tie back on level terms defeating Casey Dellacqua 6-2 6-3.

Stosur was down a set and three break points in the opening game of the second before getting her serve into the groove and roaring back into the contest.
 
 “Obviously [there would have been] a huge change of momentum if I had lost that game then who knows where the match could have ended up,” Stosur said.
 
“When I got down to love 40 I thought I would try a few slice serves and then started getting better rhythm because I wasn’t serving that great in the set. I think I made a few first serves and then won the game and (thought) oh okay that works and keep doing that. I was able to stick with that the rest of the match and that worked well. If I’d lost that game then who knows...”
 
Martinez also noted the pivotal first game of the second set as a turning point. “She started playing with more confidence and playing better. I lost confidence with that game and she started to get more.”
 
Australian Fed Cup Captain David Taylor was full of praise for his No.1 who registered her16th straight Fed Cup singles victory.

“Sam was a little bit panicked in having lost five straight sets to the girl and you don’t lose five straight sets very often when you are number eleven in the world. But when you come up with a solution under pressure you can go home pretty pleased with yourself,” he said.
 
Dellacqua started her match well racing to a 2-0 lead before Medina hit back winning the next six games and the set. The Spaniard then winning the second despite a mini-comeback from the Australian late in the second.
 
“She got a lot of balls back and she played really well. I’ve got to give her credit for some good tennis. I wasn’t able to close out games and finish points and I think I was a bit impatient. I guess I’ve got to keep chipping away and keep getting better every day so I can consistently play good tennis throughout the match,” said Dellacqua of the contest.

As for Medina, she said she was happy with her ability to hold and serve out the match against the Dellacqua‘s spirited fight.

 
“She started to hit out I had to run a lot to close out the match, I’m really happy to close the match in two sets now I can rest for tomorrow. I think I played very very good I run a lot I’m very happy with how my knees are on court, better,” Medina said.
 
Spain’s Fed Cup Captain Miguel Margets also praised the team’s efforts to level the series but said they had more work to do if having had the Australia’s on the back foot.

“I’m satisfied the way my players did their job. Of course it could be better, we were nearer 2-0 than Australia. So I am satisfied but not totally satisfied,” Margets said.
 
“I think they will be interesting matches for sure. We expect Sam to play but we don’t know anything more. It is difficult to talk when we don’t know who’s going to play. My doubles is clear for me.”
 
Sunday will see the reverse singles followed by the doubles. Aussies Alicia Molik and Rennae Stubbs will takeon Carla Suarez and Nuria Llagostera.