France into final of Fed Cup

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  • April 17, 2016

France produced a thrilling comeback against the Netherlands to secure a place in this year's Fed Cup by BNP Paribas final.

The last time they were able to reach the final of the Fed Cup was way back in 2005. They would go on to lose that tie 3-2 to Russia in heartbreaking fashion.

In the opening rubber of the semi-final on Saturday Caroline Garcia of France played Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands. Bertens looked the better player throughout the match and after taking a surprisingly close first set 6-4, she went on to claim the second set 6-2 and with it the match.

In Saturday's second game, Kristina Mladenovic squared-up matters for France when she beat Richel Hogenkamp 6-2, 6-4.

On Sunday Mladenovic was first out for France and she was defeated by Bertens 5-7, 4-6.

Needing a victory to keep her side's chances of winning the Fed Cup for the first time since 2003 alive, Garcia produced the goods against Arantxa Rus as the former won easily in straight sets.

In dramatic fashion the tie was decided by the doubles rubber which was played by Garcia and Mladenovic for France and Bertens and Hogenkamp for Netherlands.

The match and ebbed and flowed. While the Dutch pair got off to a strong start by winning the opening stanza 6-4, the French pair would go on to win the second set 6-3 and the third by the same score line to book their place in the final.

 

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