well there was no where else to write this and its not worth a new thread but the player LISICKI from germany whom cavaday and the top girls have playedalot and some of them hold wins against qualified for the aussie open then BEAT DINARA SAFINA in the irst round and has justwon her second rouns. this will put her into the top 100. if sh can do it some of our girls can!!!!!
That's a really good result. Gagliardi is ranked 124, but considering the quality of Schnyder, it was essential that Anne won that match.
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
A good effort considering the strength of the opposition, but it isn't any easier tomorrow against the host nation. The match between Agnes Szavay (ranked 20) and whoever plays the top singles for us will be shown from 3.30pm on Magyar TV (m1) if anyone has a satellite system with the appropriate decryption. This is the report from the LTA site.
GB Fed Cup opener ends in defeat
Great Britains hard fought opening Fed Cup tie against Switzerland ended in a narrow defeat by two rubbers to one in Budapest this evening.
In the final rubber, Elena Baltacha and Mel South were looking to give the GB team the perfect end to day one of competition by securing victory over a strong Switzerland team of Emmanuelle Gagliardi and Patty Schnyder. After an even opening few games the Swiss pair started to show their class and, while often troubled by the British duo, took the first set 6-3. The second set was a similar story with Baltacha and South causing Gagliardi and Schnyder more problems before losing the set to the same score.
The doubles was competitive and closer than the score suggested but in the end Gagliardi and Schnyder proved that they are a class pair.
Nigel Sears, GB Fed Cup Captain
Earlier in the day, British number two Anne Keothavong got the GB team off to a fantastic start by beating the world number 126, Gagliardi, 6-1 6-4 with an impressive performance. Anne dominated throughout the match winning nine out of the first ten games before overcoming something of a revival by Gagliardi to take the match in straight sets.
I felt that today was one of Annes best ever performances. Right from the start she attacked and played some brilliant tennis.
Carl Maes, LTA Head of Womens Tennis
In the second rubber, Katie OBrien pushed the world number 14, Schnyder, all the way with a really strong performance. On paper this always looked like a tough match for the British number one but she showed the improvement she has made over the past few months and has clearly carried her form from the Australian Open into this weeks tournament. The British number one eventually lost 6-7(5) 5-7 having led 4-2 in the first set tie-break and 3-0 in the second set.
Katie fought her socks off and created opportunities but unfortunately missed a couple of crucial finishes, particularly at 4-2 up in the tiebreak and 3 love up in the second set.
Nigel Sears, GB Fed Cup Captain
Great Britain are competing in Europe / Africa Zone Group 1 and have been drawn in a round-robin pool with Switzerland, Hungary and Denmark. Tomorrow the GB team plays the host country, Hungary, who got off to a strong start with a 3-0 victory in their tie against Denmark.
A strong performance there, great from the singles to push it so close and sounds like the doubles wasn't too shabby either. Just a shame the tie was so difficult, it was always going to be against the odds
Good luck against Hungary tomorrow
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty
What are our chances of going through now? Is it top 2 in each group?
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience