China survive scare to reach the Fed Cup semis
February 4, 2008

China beat France 3-2 in a Fed Cup World Group, moving into the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time. China needed just one more win to move into the final Fed Cup four after pulling ahead in the tie 2-0 on Saturday with two singles victories.

China, without their No. 2 player Peng Shuai, had trouble when top-ranked Li Na lost to the powerful French baseliner Virginie Razzano.

Then doubles specialist Yan Zi, filling in for Peng, lost to Nathalie Dechy 6-3, 6-2 in the second singles match and the match was leveled 2-2 with only the doubles rubber to play.

In the decider, China fielded the 2006 Wimbledon champions Yan and Zheng Jie.

The pair won 7-5, 7-6, clinching the tie-breaker 7-5 against Dechy and Razzano, making a rare appearance in the doubles discipline for the French.

In the second singles match China's Yan Zi lost to Nathalie Dechy 3-6, 2-6

The two lined up opposite each other again for the decisive doubles rubber, with Dechy partnered by Razzano and Zheng joining Yan.

The rubber was finely balanced but the match tilted towards China.