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 Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 15 Jul 2007 |
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| 15 Jul 2007 - Sky Hall Toyota, Toyota, Japan - Barbara Travers - JPN v GER | |
| Germany secures place in 2008 World Group |
In the end, it all came down to the doubles. Four hard-fought singles matches between two young teams from Japan and Germany resulted in two matches all at the Sky Hall Toyota in Toyota, Japan, making the fifth doubles rubber the decisive match of the tie. As with every match throughout the tie, both teams competed to a very high standard and to the best of their ability but, in the end, it was the power and the experience of the German squad that carried them to victory over Japan.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Tatjana Malek defeated Rika Fujiwara and Ayumi Morita 63 64 to give Germany a 3-2 win in the tie and a place in the 2008 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group. Japan will compete in World Group II in 2008.
German captain Barbara Rittner summed up the weekend for Germany, saying, “Tatjana played her best tennis at the right time. And I had strong belief in our doubles team with Anna-Lena. She didn’t have the rhythm of having played singles but she is a very good leader on the court. I am unbelievably proud and happy that we won.”
Rittner delighted with World Group return
“We are back in the World Group and we will have a tough draw for sure,” continued Rittner. “We won’t be seeded but, for the first round, we hope to have a home match and will try very hard to stay in the World Group. It will be tough but we will do our best.”
The Japanese captain, Minoru Ueda, was philosophical in defeat, saying, “To be honest, we had hoped to win three singles as we knew the German doubles would be very tough. I chose Morita for the doubles because I was hoping she would have high motivation after her singles loss but, although she tried, she was unable to do so.”
“Next year, we are in Group II,” added Ueda. “It is clear what we have to do and we will do it.”
For the doubles, both captains made changes to their nominations with Ayumi Morita replacing Tomoko Yonemura in the Japanese squad and Tatjana Malek replacing Andrea Petkovic in the German team. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric and, even on this first sunny day in over a week now that the typhoon has moved to the north, the crowd were glued to their seats throughout the match, cheering on every Japanese success.
Teenagers shine for Japan
There had been some disappointment that Japan’s three best players had declined to play this tie against Germany but the success of both Erika Takao, 19, and Morita, 17, had made new stars for Japanese tennis and the crowd was very appreciative.
In the opening singles on Sunday, Takao took on Angelique Kerber of Germany. Both players had lost in Saturday’s singles but a win today could both turn the tide for their country and salvage their weekend personally. Kerber, at No. 73, is ranked 73 places ahead of Takao, currently ranked No. 146 but the Japanese No. 1, much shorter and much faster than her left-handed opponent, had the advantage of playing at home in front of a big, supportive crowd, even larger than yesterday. Both had played nervous matches on Saturday but Takao overcame those nerves and played a determined, aggressive match.
With Takao serving for the first set, Kerber lifted her game, forcing five break points before the Japanese No. 1 regrouped to win the first set 6-3. In the second set, Takao looked increasingly confident and broke Kerber in the fifth and seventh games, serving out the match to put Japan ahead 2-1 in the tie.
Takao upsets higher ranked opponent
“I was able to play my game from the beginning today,” said Takao after the match. “I am very satisfied with the result. I tried hard to focus and not worry about my opponent. Today I was more relaxed and I was able to concentrate on my play throughout the match.
“This win in Fed Cup makes me more confident. I am very, very happy to have defeated a higher ranked player.”
“This was a first match experience for Angelique,” said Rittner. “The pressure was too much and she held back too much. Erika, though, played very well.”
Malek revived German hopes by defeating yesterday’s Japanese heroine Morita 64 63 to level the tie at 2-2. Malek, Germany’s most valuable player for this tie, is now undefeated so far in Fed Cup with a 6-0 win-loss record. She played a smart, consistent match against Morita, serving and returning well. Morita, who continued to fight until the last point, looked a bit tired after yesterday’s success but, though she performed at a high level, Malek was more effective on the big points. It is a credit to the quality of play of both players that they were selected by their captains to compete in the decisive doubles.
Malek emerges as Germany's heroine
In the end, it was the powerful Groenefeld and the on-fire Malek who overcame the Japanese doubles team. Although the experienced Fujiwara and Morita combined well, the Germans were just too good for them on the day. The joy and the tears of the German team told the story. The entire squad was overcome, especially Petkovic, an outstanding team player who led the cheering all weekend even after being replaced in the doubles.
“It was great,” said Groenefeld. "We played really well and we had the team behind us. Tatjana was pumped up after winning her singles and, as my captain said, it was tough for me without having played singles but I am very happy that we won and that we won the whole tie.”
“I am also very happy that we won,” added Malek. “I am very tired but very happy. We are a great team and we had fun.”
Morita, who plays a very grown up game, seemed more like her 17 years after the tie. Clearly disappointed, she said, “Maybe I wanted to win too much and, in doubles, I wanted to avenge the loss. But they were too powerful and such great servers. We wanted the World Group but so did they. I hope I will learn from this and gain in confidence.”
The first round of the 2008 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be played on the weekend of 2-3 February and the draw for 2008 will be held 14 September 2007 during the Final of the 2007 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.
Related Links on other websites
> Information in Japanese - JTA
> Informationen auf Deutsch - DTB
Related Links on Fedcup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
> All Square in Toyota
> Teenagers to open tie
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