Mauresmo seals Fed Cup win
Mauresmo seals Fed Cup win
From correspondents in Tokyo, Japan
Former Australian Captain April 27, 2008
AMELIE Mauresmo has outclassed Ai Sugiyama to give France an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Japan and secure a return to the Fed Cup World Group.
The 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion needed only 74 minutes to secure a straightforward 6-1 6-4 victory over the former world doubles No.1 in the best-of-five contest.
Mauresmo overwhelmed Ayumi Morita 6-0
6-2 on day one of the play-off, while Japan Open champion Virginie Razzano fended off a late challenge by Sugiyama to win 6-1 7-5.
France, who have lost to Japan only once in eight Fed Cup ties, in 1973, contested the relegation play-offs after surprisingly losing to China, 3-2, in February.
Mauresmo did not play against China.
Agence France-Presse