The United States needs three straight wins if it’s going to beat France in the Fed Cup final.
The Americans fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-five series after the French won both singles matches Saturday in Moscow. Amelie Mauresmo overpowered Lisa Raymond 6-4, 6-3, and two-time major champion Mary Pierce outlasted Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 3-6, 8-6.
The losses–on U.S. captain Billie Jean King’s 60th birthday–put all of the pressure on the Americans heading to Sunday. After the opponents will be reversed for two singles matches, Raymond and 47-year-old Martina Navratilova will face Pierce and Emilie Loit in doubles. Navratilova is 38-0 in Fed Cup play.
King said both matches Saturday hinged on about three points, leaving hope for Sunday.
“I think we have a great chance,” she said.
France has lost to the United States in their 10 previous Fed Cup encounters and won its sole title in the event in 1997–the only other time it reached the final. The United States is trying for its 18th Fed Cup title.
