Nomination change for Netherlands saw Caroline Garcia take on Arantxa Rus instead of Richel Hogenkamp in the crucial fourth rubber. In a must-win match, a composed Garcia brushed off pressure to win the first set. In the second set, Rus came to live taking the lead before the Frenchwoman came fighting defeating Rus 6-3, 6-4 and forcing the tie to go to the deciding doubles rubber.
Nervous Rus hands the first set to Garcia
Garcia got off to the start she wanted breaking after a nervous start from Rus. The Dutch though had a chance of her own but Garcia saved it to lead 2-0. Rus was then able to shake off that shaky start to get herself in the set.
With both players holding their serve, it looked like that one break would suffice for Garcia. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, Rus faltered and successive double faults gave the Frenchwoman double set point. Garcia capitalized to take the first set 6-3 in just 38 minutes.
Garcia comes back to level the tie
Garcia found herself in trouble as she faced an immediate break point in the first game. An untimely double fault gifted the Dutch player the game. Rus seemed to have grown into the game as she got the double break for a commanding 3-0 lead.
With the momentum looking to be on the Dutch player’s side, she however hit double fault to give break back point back to Garcia. And the Frenchwoman got the break before closing out the next game for 2-3. With the gap reduced to one game, momentum seemed to swing back to Garcia. And it was her turn to get triple break point opportunity. Rus overcooked her forehand and the set was back on level terms at 3-3.
Rus though shook off that poor game to carve another break chance in the seventh game. Garcia was a picture of composure saving it with patient build up before closing the game to lead for the first time in the second set. The Frenchwoman blitzed a massive return for a chance to extend her lead but Rus fired a huge serve to fend Garcia off for an important hold.
Relentless pressure from Garcia put pressure on Rus finding some great shots getting herself set point. The Dutch could only net her forehand and Garcia completed a must-win victory for France to level the tie 2-2.
Match Statistics
Garcia fired 15 winners to Rus’ eight. However, it was not a clinical display from either player as the Frenchwoman hit a staggering 47 unforced errors while the Dutch hit six more.
Garcia was more efficient at the net winning six time while Rus had no luck there.