|
[1] Samantha Teran
(Mex) bt [4] Manuela Manetta (Ita)
8/10, 9/0, 9/7, 6/9, 9/6 (99m)
Teran takes her time ...
When you put two tenacious warriors together on a hot bouncy court,
you know what to expect. Last year these two treated the LAAC crowd
to a 70-minute battle and today they exceeded even that with a
gripping five-game thriller.
 The
match went in phases, with first one then the other taking charge.
Samantha's spells were when she was playing aggressively, volleying
everything and driving the ball low and hard. When Manuela managed
to slow the pace down she would take charge for a period, and over
the course of the match both enjoyed several spells of being on top.
Samantha took early command, a quick 5/1 lead in the first became
8/3. Manuela saved that with a lucky nick on the sidewall and took
advantage of the reprieve, clawing her way back to take the game and
the lead.
The second was over in a relative flash - Samantha attacked, Manuela
made some errors, and it was soon level.
The Italian assumed control in the third, slowing the pace and
denying her opponent attacking opportunities as she took a 6/1 lead.
Samantha hung in though, pulled a few points back and took heart
from three tins from Manuela. A "cheap" stroke (Manuela's words)
took the Mexican to game ball, and despite herculean retrieving
Manuela finally put a volley into the tin to concede the lead.
The fourth was the tensest - and longest - game. 4/1 to Manuela,
5-all. A conduct warning each for dissent and racket abuse ...
Manuela hits Samantha's shoulder on the way to a winner, then offers
a let while Samantha finds an elastoplast. 6-all. If mistakes from
Manuela cost her the third, she won the fourth with some lovely
winners, delicate flicks at the front, finishing with a dying length
at the end of a monster rally. Two all.
The last game was a mirror of the match. Samantha on top early, 3/1.
Manuela battles back to lead 6/5. 6-all and the ball bursts. On the
restart it was the Mexican who took the final three points, the last
rally another monster.
You had to feel sorry for the loser of such a match, it really was
one of those no-one deserved to lose, they both played exceptionally
well ... phew!
 “I
wanted to set a record time before we go to 11 scoring! No,
seriously, I tried everything and she tried everything, it was a
very close match. When I was up I knew I couldn’t relax as she would
be coming back, and when I was down I became more determined not to
let her get away.
“I’m used to playing very long matches, since in Mexico I play a lot
with the men and the courts are very hot there too.
“It’s nice to win, but I never thought about revenge for last year,
it was just a good match, and I’m really pleased to be in the
final.”
 |
“99 minutes … bloody hell. I know I’ve had some long matches but
that’s probably the longest yet. We both played pretty well, it’s a
shame to lose after a match like that.
“When I was able to slow the pace down and be patient I was winning,
but when she upped the pace and was more aggressive she was rushing
me into mistakes.
“We were both tired but we both wanted it so much. I’m happy it was
a good match for the crowd, who were great.
“It’s a few weeks’ holiday for me now – I was hoping to start after
tomorrow but now I guess I’ve got an extra day!”
 |
“I
felt really focused today, I don’t really know how it happened but
the basis of my game was to drive it low and hard and pin her in the
back corners, and it was working really well.
