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17 Sep 2006 - Spiroudome, Charleroi, BEL

As it happened: Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Mara Santangelo (ITA)

Mara Santangelo defeated Kirsten Flipkens 67 63 60 to keep Italy's dream of a first Fed Cup title alive.

Santangelo d. Flipkens 67(3) 63 60

Game By Game Updates:

Game, set and match ITALY
Flipkens 7-6(3) 3-6 0-6 Santangelo
And it's a decisive doubles for the third year running as Santangelo serves out to the delight of the Italian supporters. Schaivone and Vinci will indeed play the doubles for Italy with Henin-Hardenne and Flipkens for Belgium. It will start in 25 minutes.

Flipkens 7-6 (3) 3-6 0-5* Santangelo
Another break. Conscious that she will probbaly have to play doubles, Flipkens is trying to keep the points short and conserve some energy.

Flipkens 7-6 (3) 3-6 *0-4 Santangelo
There is a certain inevitability about this match now - could the destination of the Fed Cup be decided in a deciding doubles for the third year in a row ?

Flipkens 7-6 (3) 3-6 0-3* Santangelo
Looking tired from her efforts in the previous game, Flipkens gives up her serve tamely. And can we spot the potential doubles teams - Schiavone and Vinci have disappeared from the Italian bench, and Henin-Hardenne from the Belgian bench too.

Flipkens 7-6 (3) 3-6 *0-2 Santangelo
Well, that game had everything. Santangelo wasted seven game points with some shocking errors as the occasion seems to beginning to get to her, but finally delivered the telling point. Play was held up by prolonged booing from the crowd following an ace from Santangelo which they believed was out. This may have been the final turning point.

Flipkens 7-6 (3) 3-6 0-1* Santangelo
Three errors from Flipkens hands Italy an early break at the start of the final set. Flipkens is looking quite despondent.

Flipkens in fact took a injury timeout at the end of the second set. At the same time Barazzutti gave Santangelo a gentle massage on her thighs.

Second set ITALY 6-3
Flipkens 7-6 (3) 3-6 Santangelo
Flipkens can't keep her scrambled lob in court on Santangelo's second set point and the Italian levels the match. It's anyone's guess how this match will go. Flipkens recives a quick masage on her left thigh at the changeover as we head into our first three-setter of the weekend.

Flipkens 7-6(3) 3-5* Santangelo
Despite looking down and out at 15-40 Flipkens maintained her ability to produce the goods when it matters. The crowd, who had just gone a little quiet, have picked up their support again, especially when she aces to make it 3-5.

Flipkens 7-6(3) *2-5 Santangelo
Confident or not, Santangelo does what she has to and holds serve to love.

Flipkens 7-6(3) 2-4* Santangelo
She's stopped the rot - can she find the big returns to put Santangelo under pressure. The Italian is still not looking too confident.

Flipkens 7-6(3) *1-4 Santangelo
Has Santangelo got the measure of her opponent ? Captain Carl Maes is trying to rally his charge.

Flipkens 7-6(3) 1-3* Santangelo
Flipkens' level dipped noticeably in that game. Justine Henin-Hardenne has returned to the team benches and Kim Clijsters is jumping up and down between points and the whole team is drumming on the banners. Can they lift Flipkens ?

Flipkens 7-6(3) *1-2 Santangelo
Santangelo is taking her time, playing at her pace and trying not to push too much. So far, so good.

Flipkens 7-6(3) 1-1* Santangelo
Santangelo nets a forehand on game point as Flipkens holds steady.

Flipkens 7-6(3) *0-1 Santangelo
Santangelo goes back to basics and concentrates on getting the simple things right. Flipkens is going to have to earn this, it won't be given to her on a plate.

First set BELGIUM 7-6 (3)
Flipkens 7-6 (3) Santangelo
Flipkens appeared the most assured throughout the tiebreak and hits a backhand return out of reach of Santangelo on her first set point to send the crowd delirious.

Flipkens 6-6 (6-3* tb) Santangelo
It's three set points to Belgium !

Flipkens 6-6 (*5-2 tb) Santangelo
Flipkens could finish this set on her next two serves.

Flipkens 6-6 (4-2* tb) Santangelo
Flipkens captures the first point against serve in the tiebreak with a great forehand passing shot.

Flipkens 6-6 (*1-2 tb) Santangelo
Both players are extremely tight and don't want to make a mistake but Flipkens makes the errors to trail 1-2.

Flipkens 6-6 (1-0* tb) Santangelo
Santangelo goes long with a forehand on the first point of the tiebreak.

Flipkens 6-5* Santangelo
Flipkens is going from strength to strength and Santangelo gifts her three points with errors on her groundstrokes. This time it's Barrazzuti's turn to try to get his player back on track at the changeover.

Flipkens *5-5 Santangelo
The momentum switches dramatically as Flipkens saves a set point and then on break point Santangelo makes a mess of a volley and Belgium are still in this first set.

Flipkens 4-5* Santangelo
A backhand whizzes down the line out of reach of Flipkens and it's advantage Italy. Santangelo has won five of the last six games and is looking slightly more comfortable.

Flipkens *4-4 Santangelo
This is getting very tight. Santangelo appears to be rushing but composes herself sufficiently to hold on. There is the added psychological battle of Flipkens trying to speed up play and Santangelo trying to take her time between points.

Flipkens 4-3* Santangelo
Better play from Flipkens in the often crucial seventh game, winning the game with a delicate stop volley.

Flipkens *3-3 Santangelo
Santangelos squares it up again with a strong display of serving, including two aces, although Flipkens thinks the last one is a fault. She looks at umpire Alison Lang who indicates it was in.

Flipkens 3-2* Santangelo
Flipkens' joy is shortlived as Santangelo gets the match back on serve on her third break point.

Flipkens *3-1 Santangelo
Santangelo starts with a double fault and it doesn't get better as Flipkens breaks.

Flipkens 2-1* Santangelo
Flipkens got a little tentative from 40-15 and Santangelo gets back to deuce, but Flipkens holds firm and finishes the game with a beautiful backhand down the line.

Flipkens *1-1 Santangelo
Santangelo seems to have settled quickly also and apart from a horrible volley into the net, plays well to hold serve.

Flipkens 1-0* Santangelo
Flipkens survives a break point in the first game to hold serve. That will help settle the nerves. She looks way more relaxed than in yesterday's match.

1640
The players are about to start. Flipkens to serve.

Italian captain Corrado Barrazzutti has gambled on Mara Santangelo in this fourth singles rubber, choosing her to replace Flavia Pennetta. While she is ranked much higher than her opponent, Kirsten Flipkens (No. 98), being currently at a career-high of No. 33, her Fed Cup experience is limited to two dead doubles rubbers.