Russia Wins Final Doubles to Retain Fed Cup Title
Posted on September 19, 2005Elena Dementieva played the one-woman band Sunday in driving Russia to its second straight Fed Cup title, teaming with Dinara Safina in the deciding doubles to defeat Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
While Anastasia Myskina won both singles and the doubles to lead Russia in the final last year, this time it was Dementieva's turn as Myskina lost both the singles.
"It's my third Fed Cup final but the first time that I have won so I am really happy," Dementieva said.
Dementieva led off Sunday with a three-set win over Mauresmo, then Myskina blew a set and 4-1 lead against Pierce as the French evened up the tie.
Dementieva said Myskina was nonetheless instrumental in the 2005 Fed Cup title.
"Although Anastasia lost today, if she hadn't beaten Venus Williams in the semifinal (against the U.S.), we may not have been here," Dementieva said.
Dementieva and Safina had never played together as a team, and the nerves showed on both sides in the doubles as the first three games went to breaks of serve. Mauresmo and Pierce won six straight games to capture the second set, but in the third Mauresmo's nerves surfaced, dropping serve twice to hand Russia the title.
"It's hard to analyze straight after a defeat," Mauresmo said. "We played our best but it wasn't good enough. I hope I don't take too long to recover from this."
Russia is the first country to win consecutive titles since the U.S. in 1999-2000. The last country to win three in a row was Spain in 1993-95.
While Anastasia Myskina won both singles and the doubles to lead Russia in the final last year, this time it was Dementieva's turn as Myskina lost both the singles.
"It's my third Fed Cup final but the first time that I have won so I am really happy," Dementieva said.
Dementieva led off Sunday with a three-set win over Mauresmo, then Myskina blew a set and 4-1 lead against Pierce as the French evened up the tie.
Dementieva said Myskina was nonetheless instrumental in the 2005 Fed Cup title.
"Although Anastasia lost today, if she hadn't beaten Venus Williams in the semifinal (against the U.S.), we may not have been here," Dementieva said.
Dementieva and Safina had never played together as a team, and the nerves showed on both sides in the doubles as the first three games went to breaks of serve. Mauresmo and Pierce won six straight games to capture the second set, but in the third Mauresmo's nerves surfaced, dropping serve twice to hand Russia the title.
"It's hard to analyze straight after a defeat," Mauresmo said. "We played our best but it wasn't good enough. I hope I don't take too long to recover from this."
Russia is the first country to win consecutive titles since the U.S. in 1999-2000. The last country to win three in a row was Spain in 1993-95.