Fifth match win earns Spain the Fed Cup final

The Fed Cup
By Etienne Stekelenburg
October 31 2002

The Spanish Fed Cup team will be playing their tenth Fed Cup final after defeating the team from Austria. After Spain held a 2-0 lead on the first day Austria managed to tie the match but lost the deciding doubles match. Spain is now looking to get their sixth Fed Cup title.

Day one of the Fed Cup meeting between Spain and Austria showed no surprises. Both Martinez and Sanchez-Vicario won their match easy.

After winning the first set 6:0 Martinez was leading in the second with 5:2. The Austrian Patricia Wartusch didn’t give up at that moment. After winning her serve to stay in the match she broke Conchita Martinez for 5:4. Little hope for the Austrian team but the Spanish Fed Cup veteran won the second set 7:5.

The other Spanish veteran Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario, who is breaking a Fed Cup appearance record, had to meet Austrian Barbara Schett in the second match of the first day. Sanchez-Vicario made her 57th appearance in a Fed Cup meeting, to tie the old record from Britain’s Virginia Wade.

Barbara Schett had good chances to break Sanchez-Vicario but her well-known fighting spirit kept the 31 year old on the winning side. Serving at 3:5 Schett managed to save two set points but lost her serve and the first set in the end 3:6.

The second set showed a fighting Schett and Sanchez-Vicario had the Austrian running all over the court. This resulted in a tiebreak where Schett held a 5:2 lead. The next five points were won by Sanchez-Vicario that won her the match and a 2-0 lead in the meeting.

Day 2 of the Spain versus Austria confrontation showed a different outcome. Schett who played Martinez managed to win in three sets.

“If I could have been a little bit more patient yesterday maybe I could have won my match, but I am happy to win today,” a relieved Schett said afterwards. “It is one step forward today and now we will see how the other match goes.”

After two hours of tennis both players were both tired and Schett took advantage of the opportunity and broke to take a 3:2 lead in the third set. The first set was won by Schett 7:5 and the second set ended in a tiebreak won by Martinez. 6:7 (3).

Winning her own serve on love and breaking Martinez’ serve Schett won the third with 6:2. Bringing back some hope into the Austrian team again and saving the chance to reach the final.

“I was very patient and took my chances at the right time,” Schett said. “I played a lot of drop shots and played over her backhand a lot – that was my tactic before the match and it worked well, and in the end I think she was a little tired.”

Wartusch managed to tie the meeting against record holder Sanchez-Vicario. After saving four breakpoints Sanchez-Vicario managed to take a 5:3 lead in the first set. Facing two other breakpoints Sanchez-Vicario fought back and wins the first set 6:4.

The 24 years old Austrian from Vienna held a 3:0 lead in the second set. Struggling through her service games Sanchez-Vicario was 4:2 behind. The Spanish number two started to pressure Wartusch and came back to 5:4. Just before the Austrian really was in trouble she could regain control and won the second set 6:4.

The third set was always close between the two players. The third set showed a 7 all tie. Wartusch managed to hold her serve to make it 8:7. Sanchez-Vicario lost her first point on her own serve but had a lead on her serve. On 40-30 Sanchez-Vicario puts the ball in the net for deuce. The Spanish veteran hits a ball wide for match point for Austria. Sanchez-Vicario missed the sideline and Wartusch pulled out a 2-2 tie in the Fed Cup meeting.

"It was probably my best win so far," said Wartusch. "To beat her in the semi-finals of Fed Cup at home is great. I am very happy with that result."

Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual had to play the deciding double against Barbara Schett and Patricia Wartusch. After a good start and breaking the Austrian serve the Spanish players still lost the first set. 6:4

In the second set Spain had the better end of the match. The Austrian team showed a little let down and Spain took advantage. Wartusch had to ask for injury time for treatment on her lower back. Spain won the second set 6:3

After Spain broke two times in the third the Austrian spirit was broken as well when they were 1:4 down. Martinez held serve for 5:1 and Wartusch, who had to fight off Sanchez-Vicario just a few hours earlier, had to do the same but failed and was looking at three match points against her.

The first one saved Wartusch made an error on the second match point and Spain was in the tenth final.

The final will be held next weekend.