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Spain in command at Fed Cup
26/04/2008 13:50 - (SA)
Beijing - Five-time champions Spain took a commanding 2-0 lead on the opening day of their Fed Cup semi-final clash with two straight-sets victories over China.
Despite noisy home support, 76th-ranked Nuria Llagostera Vives beat Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-4 in one hour 43 minutes to leave the Spanish needing to win just one of the three matches on Sunday to reach the final.
Earlier, Carla Suarez Navarro beat Peng Shuai 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
A fired-up Llagostera dominated from the baseline early in the match, sending Zheng, ranked 206, scurrying into the corners chasing crunching forehands and backhands.
In the decisive second set, Llagostera broke early to lead 2-0 and the Spaniard battled through a gruelling fifth game to take a 4-1 lead.
But Llagostera, rattled by a number of line calls and some gritty tennis from Zheng, saw her lead disappear as Zheng grew in confidence, firing winners past her opponent to the delight of the crowd.
The Spaniard regained her composure to hold serve for a 5-4 lead and, under huge pressure, Zheng lost her service game, giving Llagostera the win.
In the first set, Llagostera broke Zheng in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead, breaking again to seal the set 6-3.
Earlier, the 132nd-ranked Suarez, who won the first set 6-3, missed a chance to serve out for the match when leading 5-4 in the second set but took the tie-break 7-4.
With both players trading heavy groundstrokes from the back of the court, Suarez was first to settle into the match, dictating play and impressing with her one-handed backhand.
The 68th-ranked Peng saved a set point on her own serve in the eighth game of the opening set and two more in the next game but Suarez held her nerve to take the set 6-3.
China, making their first ever semi-final appearance, were unable to make the most of playing on the fast hard courts of the indoor International Tennis Centre against a Spanish side who prefer clay.
The tie will be decided on Sunday in the reverse singles matches and a doubles clash.
- AFP
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