After waiting for what seemed forever for the second match on center court to finish so Natalie and Jackie could start. The officials gave into the idea and moved their match to court 2. They played the 2nd seeded team of Duqui-Marino (COL) and Perez (VEN), ranked 424th.
Natalie and Jackie had their slowest start yet as a team. Guess they should have re-warmed up. Anyway, they lost the first set 1-6, it what seem like a flash....maybe 25 minutes. Starting the second set with a break of the opponents serve....game them a little pep in the step which def was lacking the first set. Natalie served a quick game 2 and we were on top, and feeling good. Finally, putting pressure on the two that are from south of our boarders.
Going up 3-1, then tied at 3 all, was enough to get my nerves going. Then 4 all, 5 all and into a breaker for the second set. We got out to a fast start and went up 4-2 in the breaker. A lucky net cord in our favor followed by a double fault from our opponents and our team was up 6-2. You could see the pressure was applied and the opponents were feeling it, getting tight. A forehand into the net and the second set was ours.
Following a short break and we were off and running in the third. Going up 3-1 rather quickly....Natalie serving up an "ace" out wide put us up 4-1 and put the opponents shoulders down. A great rally by both teams came to an end with a "sick" cross court shot by Jackie and it was 7-3. There was no looking back and we were on a roll. It went 9-3 then 9-4...then ...you guessed it....winner, winner....10-4! Woot!
Tomorrow, the ladies will play the Semi Finals and will face the 701st ranked team of Gabeva (RUS) and Rodeonova (RUS). Natalie has faced both of these ladies before on seperate. They were not playing together as a team. The match will be third on after 11 o'clock....which is code for 3ish.
Congrats to Natalie and Jackie....way to stick it out and battle! So proud of both of you!
