Collins Cup: USA 6 - 1 Europe

By Glyn James
December 9 2002

The USA have gained an emphatic victory over their European counterparts and dropped just one match, and three sets. over the course of the entire Collins Cup.

It was always going to be mission impossible for the Europeans to achieve anything here with an under strength side, and they were in trouble from the very beginning when their star player, Jelena Dokic, revealed that she would not be playing due to an ankle injury. Elena Bovina took Dokic's place on the European side, and was arguably their best player.

Day one started with the Europeans fighting hard. Both Schett and Kournikova gave it their all in their respective singles matches, but the Americans had class and more experience as Davenport and Seles both came out close winners with two straight sets victories between them.

Day two was doubles day, and Davenport and Seles were opening the action once again. This time it was their doubles combination which would face Barbara Schett and Iva Majoli. The European pair may have been rather pleasing to the eye, but they were no match for Davenport and Seles who ran up a 6-1 7-6 victory. Next on court were the eagerly awaited Williams sisters. Hantuchova and Bovina had the unenviable task of restoring some European pride and upsetting the sisters, but the ball kept running the American way, and after some encouraging signs from Russia's Elena Bovina, the Williams sisters took a decisive 6-1 6-4 victory, thus ending all hope of a European fightback. At the end of the second day, the tie was already over as the Americans took an amazing 4-0 lead.

Day three saw the return of the singles matches. The world number one Serena Williams was first on court, and representing Europe was Croatia's Iva Majoli. Serena was hardly playing her best tennis, but was certainly doing enough to keep the Irish crowd happy. Majoli kept fighting hard for the Europeans but once again it proved to be in vain. Serena ran out a straight sets victor with a tight 7-5 6-4 scoreline. After five matches, the Europeans still didn't have a set to their name. The late replacement, Elena Bovina, was next on court, and was determined to win, despite having to play against Venus Williams. Williams took the first set 6-3, but Bovina came back strongly and was playing with a lot of intensity for an exhibition. She was pumping her fists and all fired up as she took the second 6-4. She was not going to let the final set slip after this, and after some resistance from Venus, she took the set, match, and first win for the Europeans with a 7-5 win in the third. The tournament finished with a singles match between Europe's highest ranked player, Daniela Hantuchova, and the well renowned Jennifer Capriati. Bovina's effort must have rubbed off on the Slovakian beauty as she took the first set 6-4, but then came the inevitible downfall once more, and Jennifer Capriati won the next two sets with the same 6-4 scoreline.

The tournament was a success overall, despite the embarassing scoreline, and there is talk of the Collins Cup returning next year and every year. The players were calm and relaxed and the crowd certainly enjoyed themselves. with a stronger European field, the event could turn into something bigger and more important in the future, but for now we simply look forward to the upcoming season.