Pierce restores French hopes in Fed Cup thriller
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-19 10:36

PARIS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Mary Pierce staged a remarkable comeback to beat Russia's Anastasia Myskina 4-6 6-4 6-2 and keep France in contention in a thrilling Fed Cup final at Roland Garros on Sunday.

The re-run of last year's final won 3-2 by Russia was tied at 2-2 before the decisive doubles, in which Pierce was teaming up with Amelie Mauresmo to face the Russian pair of Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina.

Dementieva had beaten Mauresmo 6-4 4-6 6-2 in a superb battle earlier on Sunday to put Russia within reach of victory.

Pierce lost to Dementieva in the opening singles on Saturday and the French fans feared she might be tired after her run to the U.S. Open final.

France captain Georges Goven had hinted she might not play on Sunday but she declared herself fit, then restored the home team's hopes with a spirited performance.

The 30-year-old, who loves Roland Garros, where she won the French Open in 2000 and advanced to the final on two other occasions, recovered from a sluggish start to delight a 15,000 crowd packing centre court on a sunny day in the French capital.

Myskina, who lost to Mauresmo on Saturday, enabling France to level the tie, at first looked like she would make amends.

The elegant 24-year-old, who has fond memories of Roland Garros herself, after beating Dementieva in last year's French Open final, made a flying start.

BACKHAND WINNER

Myskina broke Pierce in the seventh game and stayed on top to take the opening set in just 34 minutes with an angled backhand winner.

The Russian then built a 4-1 lead in the second set against a flagging Pierce, but the Frenchwoman fought back, winning the next five games to roars of approval and taking the set when Myskina netted a backhand.

The pressure from then on was on Myskina, who dropped serve with an unforced error in the fourth game of the decisive set.

Pierce was unstoppable from that point and captured Myskina's serve again in the final game, sealing victory in one hour 52 minutes with a return winner on her second match point.

Mauresmo, who has a reputation for cracking under pressure at Roland Garros, never advancing beyond the quarter-finals of the French Open, kept trying against Dementieva but the Russian lived up to her reputation as a formidable competitor.

Dementieva underlined her determination by winning the final game to love, Mauresmo netting a return on the first match point to bow out after two hours 42 minutes.

"I think I played my best tennis," Dementieva said proudly.

Mauresmo left centre court immediately to get some rest before the doubles.

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