 Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Carmona
Date: 02 Feb 2008 |
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| 02 Feb 2008 - PalaVesuvio, Naples - Adam Lincoln - ITA v ESP | |
| Major upset in Naples |
Spain’s Fed Cup team seized a commanding – if unexpected – lead on day one of their first round World Group tie against Italy in Naples. In the opening rubber, 136th-ranked Nuria Llagostera Vives upset the world No. 23, Francesca Schiavone, 76 36 62; later, Spanish No. 1 Anabel Medina Garrigues secured a more routine two-set win over Flavia Pennetta, 62 63.
On a quest to spearhead her team to a third straight final, Milan-born Schiavone never expected an easy match, and her worst fears came to pass against Llagostera Vives. The Spaniard has beaten the Italian before, so that their head-to-head record stands at 1-1. Like Schiavone, she has one tour title to her credit, and was ranked as high as No. 35 before injury setbacks.
A high-quality first set lived up to expectations of a tense duel, but it was Llagostera Vives, from Palma de Majorca, who controlled her nerves better. Indeed, although Schiavone came out blazing and secured an early break point, it was the Spaniard who drew first blood courtesy of a double fault for 3-2.
Llagostera Vives wins tight opening set
The pair was soon back on even terms, until a deft backhand volley helped the Spaniard break again for a chance to serve for the set at 5-3. Schiavone’s athletic all-court game – at its best reminiscent of Martina Navratilova and Justine Henin – kept her in the hunt long enough to force a tiebreak, but loose play at critical moments helped Llagostera Vives capture it 7-4.
Clean double-fisted driving ensured the Spaniard didn’t suffer a letdown in the early stages of the second set, but after failing to hold serve at 3-4 or capitalise on two break-back points in Schiavone’s next service game, Llagostera soon found herself serving to stay in the set. Two backhand passes gave the Italian her first set point and that was all she needed. Llagostera Vives double-faulted, and the PalaVesuvio stadium erupted.
When a leak in the roof forced play to be suspended for 45 minutes so emergency measures could be taken, Llagostera Vives was a break ahead at 2-1. Later, Schiavone would admit the interruption should have helped her more, but upon the resumption the Spaniard kept her momentum. She held her serve with ease for 3-1, and broke the Italian on a volleying error for 4-1. Two games later she closed out the match after a big first serve drew a weak reply.
Schiavone blames nerves for loss
“I thought about our match three years ago, and knew I had to play very aggressively all the time, and not give up on any point,” said Llagostera Vives. The Spaniard said she tried not to think too far ahead during the match, and perhaps missed a few chances when she did, but was pleased with the way she secured the second break of serve after the delay in play.
For her part, a philosophical Schiavone knew she had been beaten by a better player on the day. “Today was her day, tomorrow will be mine,” she said, conceding nerves had played a part in her loss. “Nobody died. I’ll go and have a pizza and try to do better tomorrow.”
The roof did its job better in the second rubber, and so did Medina Garrigues. With the Spaniard currently ranked No. 30 and Italy’s Pennetta at No. 34 this was always going to a clutch match for Spanish hopes over the weekend. As expected, the match was mostly fought from the baseline and the Valencian didn’t flinch. Although Pennetta played with customary flair, her resistance was strongest in the early stages of both sets, and while that was enough to give the local fans hope, it was ultimately the greater consistency of Medina Garrigues that told.
The win puts Medina Garrigues in the best possible position going into her match on Sunday against Schiavone; a win would send Spain to the semifinals of the competition. But, while the Spaniard has beaten the Italian on both previous occasions they’ve played, Medina Garrigues won’t be taking anything for granted. “The times I beat her were on clay,” she notes. “She’ll be a lioness out there tomorrow.”
Related Links on other websites
> Informazioni in Italiano - FIT
> Informacion en espanol - RFET
Related Links on Fedcup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
> Two houses, both alike
Related audio
 Interview with Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)
Interview with Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
Interview with Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
 
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