The Briton Maia Lumsden wins 7-6, 7-6 against American Ashley Lahey and allows her country to lead 2-1 in the final of the Master’U BNP Paribas 2017. As an image of the meeting, this match was very tight.
The United States, great favorites of the competition, they fell on a bone? Great Britain is shaking up the American team so far. Maia Lumsden brought a hard-fought second point to Ashley Lahey.
In the first set, the two young players deliver a very tense face-to-face. The American and British win all their games of service! Everything is played in a decisive tie-break, too tight: Maia Lumsden wins 7 to 5.
Ashley Lahey, however, does not lose faith. On her service games, she is not worried and signs two white games. But Maia Lumsden continues to play her game in the baseline. Three games everywhere, the scenario is racing. As she leads the exchange, Ashley Lahey totally misses her shot. The face of the American expresses all the surprise of having missed a point made. The Brit takes the opportunity to breaker in the next game, and serves for the game.
But his opponent does not give up the game. Her teammates re-motivate her – “it was the sun of my match,” she confides – and she manages to break through at 3-5, before saving a match point at 4-5, 30-40. Ashley Lahey equalizes to five games everywhere. The tension is palpable, the two players get upset. It’s still in the tie-break that they decide. Maia Lumsden quickly made the hole (3-0), and despite a burst of pride from his American opponent (7-3), she won the second set and the match, under the cheers of his team.
“I’m really happy,” she exclaims. We were very close to each other at the score. It was important to win this point. And then there is so much a good atmosphere! The joy of the British slice with the disappointment of his American rival, almost out of tears of the court. “It’s very difficult to lose this game. Maia played very well the important points, I can only congratulate her. ”
The final will be played in the doubles match, and Ashley Lahey is already ready. “We are like a dream team, we can win this game! If the next games are as intense as this one, the spectators of the central court should still feast.
Baptiste Allaire