 Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |  Photographer: Virginie Bouyer
Date: 19 Sep 2009 |
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| 19 Sep 2009 - MECC, Maastricht - Michiel de Hoog - NED v FRA | |
| France back on track |
Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame Igor Sijsling and Thiemo de Bakker 63 36 76 64 in their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off in Maastricht, to give France the edge heading into Sunday.
It was a balanced encounter until the end of the third set, when the French turned a budding frustration into something positive. On 6-5 up in the third set, Tsonga put in some hard shots, screams and grunts, trying to force a break of serve. When that wasn’t enough just yet, he screamed and grunted and hit the ball harder in the tiebreak, while Llodra made the Dutch play for every point.
It proved to be enough, the French taking the tiebreak 7-2 and seemingly breaking the spirit that the Dutch doubles had shown until then. The French almost squandered a double break up in the third but then Tsonga remembered the winning ways of the previous set, finishing the game off with an ace and a grunt. Tsonga can now finish off the tie on Sunday, when he encounters the in-form Dutch No. 1, Thiemo de Bakker.
De Bakker’s run of form continues
The doubles rubber confirmed that de Bakker has hit a purple patch of form. Perhaps benefiting from a dose of serotonin after pulling off “the biggest win of my career” on Friday against Gael Monfils, de Bakker put in a solid performance once again. He helped his teammate Igor Sijsling, who made his debut in a live Davis Cup rubber, recover from a poor beginning.
After a hesitant start in the first set, the Dutch bounced back to reach a level high enough to give chance a say in the matter. Serving at 4-3 down in the second set, Tsonga missed two makeable volleys, Llodra followed suit once and suddenly the Dutch had a break point. They converted immediately, subsequently took the set and looked equal contenders in the third, until the experience of Llodra and Tsonga’s hitting and occasional grunting made the difference.
The right team won
“It was an OK performance, we didn’t play to provide a spectacle, we played to win,” Llodra said afterwards. Dutch captain Jan Siemerink did not seem to be too upset with the loss, jumping around and pulling faces behind de Bakker when de Bakker was doing televised interviews.
Indeed, Siemerink was content with his players’ performance. “Our guys are young, and I think they gave the French a run for their money. Could we have done more? I’d have to say no, this result is the right result. The French were just a bit better in every department,” he said, with de Bakker jumping around and pulling funny faces behind him.
Tsonga and de Bakker will now meet on Sunday to decide whether the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie goes to a deciding fifth rubber, which would then be contested by either Monfils or Jeremy Chardy and, for the Dutch, Jesse Huta Galung. The Dutch fans who hissed at Tsonga during his serving motion during Saturday’s doubles had better be warned. “When they do that, it only makes me stronger,” Tsonga said.
Related Links on other websites
> Information in Dutch
> Info en francais- FFT
Related Links on Daviscup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and statistics from the tie
> Audio interviews from the tie
> France draws level in Maastricht
> De Bakker opens up for the Dutch
Related Audio
 Interview with Michael Llodra (FRA) - day 2
Interview with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) - day 2
Interview with Thiemo de Bakker (NED) - day 2
Interview with captain Jan Siemerink (NED) - day 2
 
If you cannot hear the audio, then please update your media player by following one of the links above.
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