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| Myskina shocks Jen to set up all Russian final |
June, 3rd 2004
Roland Garros
Unheralded Russian Anastasia Myskina set up an
historic all-Russian women's final after her straight sets dismantling of
former Roland Garros champion Jennifer Capriati on Thursday.
The sixth-seeded Russian steamrolled the 28-year-old American veteran,
seeded seven, 6-2 6-2 in barely over an hour. Her countrywoman Elena
Dementieva brushed aside Argentine Paola Suarez 6-0 7-5 in the earlier match
to book the historic confrontation.
"I am really surprised to still be here," 22-year-old Myskina said. "But I'm
really delighted by this Russian final. I played very, very well. I don't
think she (Capriati) played her best. But I fought on all the points and I won."
In the 107-year history of Roland Garros there has never been a Russian
winner in the women's singles with only two of the country's players making
it to the final before this year.
Olga Morozova lost to Chris Evert in 1974 while Natasha Zvereva was
humiliated 6-0 6-0 by Steffi Graf in 1988 in what is still the shortest
women's final in history.
Everything looked so easy for Myskina, clearly the more consistent of the
two on court today. She took advantage of Capriati's weak second serves and
horrific unforced errors (36 to Myskina's 29) to dictate the tempo,
constantly moving forward and forcing Capriati to play out of her comfort zone.
The Russian, whose previous best here was the second round last year, stormed
ahead, breaking the three-time Grand Slam Open champion in the second game
to go up 3-0. At 0-40 on Capriati's serve in the next game, Myskina had her
chances to widen the gap, but the American fought her way out of trouble.
Myskina was never overwhelmed by the enormity of reaching her first ever
Grand Slam final and continued her heavy pounding in the last games of the match.
The Russian broke a dejected Capriati twice (in the sixth and eight games)
to seal the deal with a beautiful crosscourt backhand winner on her first match point.
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