A combative Elena Dementieva was the inspiration behind Russia's 3-2 triumph over France in a thrilling Fed Cup final at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday.
Dementieva put the final touch to a faultless weekend show when she teamed up with Dinara Safina in the decisive doubles to beat the French pair of Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
The pony-tailed 23-year-old baseliner was instrumental throughout the tie, beating Pierce in the opening singles on Saturday before overcoming Mauresmo 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in a superb battle on Sunday to put Russia within reach of victory.
"We lose as a team and we win as a team," Dementieva said modestly. "It's not just me who won it. It's all the girls and everybody working with the team.
"For me personally, it will remain as a great memory. I'd been waiting for a moment like this for years."
After Pierce staged a remarkable fightback to beat Anastasia Myskina 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and put France level at 2-2, Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev, who had originally planned to line up Safina and Vera Doucheniva in the doubles, changed his plans and called in Dementieva to help.
She obliged and won her third match of the weekend to leave Paris with more great memories after her run to last year's French Open final, which she lost to Myskina.
SAFIN'S SISTER
Dementieva and Safina, Marat Safin's teenage sister, underlined their determination with an early break in the first set but the French pair broke back to level the set at 3-3.
The Russians captured their opponents' serve again and eventually won the set courtesy of a bold forehand winner from Safina.
Mauresmo and Pierce lost their opening service game in the second set but soon recovered to win the next six games, taking the set with a crisp Mauresmo volley.
The decisive set was tight until the French pair were broken in the eighth game and Safina served for the match.
Even the 15,000 fans packing centre court could not help any more and France bowed out, Mauresmo hitting a return long on match point just before darkness fell on the French capital.
France, playing their third successive final and aiming at their third triumph after 1997 and 2003, kept trying, helped by deafening cheers from a partisan crowd setting an attendance record for a Fed Cup final.
"It was an extraordinary fight and the public was absolutely fantastic," said France captain Georges Goven. "It's a pity we couldn't offer them a better ending."
NERVOUS MAURESMO
In the doubles, Mauresmo looked nervous and will face more questions over her ability to cope with pressure.
The former world number one has a reputation for failing to deliver at Roland Garros, where she has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals of the French Open.
Russia's weak link proved to be Myskina, who was instrumental in her team's triumph last year.
The elegant 24-year-old, going through a frustrating season, lost both her singles matches, including to Pierce where she was leading by a set and 4-1.
The weekend tie would have been even more glamorous had world number one Maria Sharapova not turned down an invitation to play for Russia this year.
"It's the best players' duty to play for Russia," said Tarpishchev. "We have an agreement with Maria Sharapova for 2006. We will see."
Russia's victory left Tarpishchev chasing a historic double. The shrewd Russian tennis chief is aiming to become the first team captain to lead his country to both the Davis and Fed Cup titles in the same year.
Russia play Croatia in the Davis Cup semi-final next week.
