US advances into Fed Cup semis

The United States got off to a flying start holding a 2-0 lead over the locals on Saturday with straight-set wins to Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Melanie Oudin.

In the opening rubber, world No. 140 Mattek-Sands defeated Alizè Cornet in a gruelling 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 battle.

It was up to Fed Cup debutante Pauline Parmentier to keep France’s hopes alive in the second rubber against Melanie Oudin. But the more experienced Oudin stretched her team’s lead with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win in an hour and 35 minutes.

This advantage gave Oudin a perfect start heading into the third rubber on Sunday as she went on to defeat France’s Julie Coin 7-6(3), 6-4.

Coin, who stepped into the French line-up for Cornet, did not make the win easy for the American breaking Oudin’s serve in the opening game. Eighteen-year-old Oudin had no answers for the 76th-ranked Coin who served impressively firing five aces in the first four games.

“In the beginning, I was a bit nervous and she was serving great, but as the match advanced I got more and more confident and I’m obviously thrilled that I was able to allow the US to go to the semis,” Oudin told fedcup.com.

After a sluggish start, the rising American teen bounced back and began to read Coin’s serve better. She broke the Coin serve to level 4-4 en route to clinching the first set in a tiebreaker 7-3 with a forehand winner at the net in an hour and six minutes.

“I had the break in the first but I was not able to hold on to it. It’s really too bad because I felt good out there,” said Coin.

“I took risks and I really wanted to give a point to my team and give Pauline a chance to level the tie.”

After exchanging breaks of serve in the opening two games of the second set, both players held serve until Oudin applied immense pressure on Coin’s serve in the fifth game. Coin managed to save one break point with a remarkable first serve but could not stop the American who continued to dominate with her forehand on the return of serve to jump ahead 3-2.

With the crucial break under her belt, Oudin took control. The world No.53 served out the set and match sending the United States into the semi-finals.

Oudin’s win allowed debutante Christina McHale to substitute for Mattek-Sands in the fourth singles match against Parmentier. Despite losing 6-4, 6-4 to her 104th-ranked opponent, the American was pleased with her performance.

“I thought I played overall pretty well. There are definitely a couple things I could have done better. But overall it was a good experience, and I am pretty happy with the way I played,” McHale told usta.com.

Americans Liezel Huber and Mattek-Sands completed the first-round tie by winning the doubles against Cornet and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-2, 6-3.

US captain Mary Joe Fernandez was thrilled with her team’s victory and praised their efforts.
"The weekend went really well. I'm so proud of my team," Fernandez told fedcup.com at the completion of play on Sunday.
"It's all about the team chemistry and wanting to do well not just for yourself but for your teammates and your country. They get out there and work hard to be their best on a given day. The rankings aren't always the most important factor when you play for your country.”
The United States extended their record to 11-1 against France. The 2009 finalists will meet Russia in the semi-finals in a home tie. Russia knocked out Serbia in a tight 3-2 tie on Sunday.