China loses best chance to play in Fed Cup final

BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- China lost to Spain 1-4 here on Sunday to miss the best opportunity to be the first ever Asian finalist in Fed Cup final, while Spain returned after six-years' absence to fight for the title they missed for almost ten years.

Spain took a 2-0 lead against host to move within one win of a place in the final after Saturday's two rubbers of singles.

Nineteen-year-old Carla Suarez Navarro, ranked No. 132 and 64 places below her opponent, gave Spain a surprise lead by beating Peng Shuai 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) before the more experienced Nuria Llagostera Vives downed Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-4.

Vives went on to defeat Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-4 in the third rubberto make sure that Spain would be the finalist in Fed Cup after they were beat by Slovakia in 2002 Fed Cup final.

"Chinese players are all very good players," said Vives. "It was a surprise for us to lead 2-0 after Saturday's matches. The whole team had a meeting together after the two matches and we studied how they play. We knew it was hard court and we had to play fast. We used our forehands to keep pressing on them and it worked."

Peng blamed herself for Saturday's lose to Navarro.

"I played better than yesterday," said Peng, "Honestly, I was under great pressure for it was the first time that China went to the semifinal. What's more, it was home court and it also gave pressure on me."

"We studied Spainish players before the match. But to our surprise, they didn't sent those high ranked players like Anabel Medina Garrigues. I never played with Navarro or Vives and I knew nothing about them."

Zheng Jie defeated Navarro 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. She admitted that the victory came too late.

"It was a pity that we failed to qualify to the final. I hope to play better in next year's Fed Cup." said Zheng Jie.