'Superwoman' Dementieva keeps Russia on top

France captain Georges Goven did not hesitate when asked the reason for his team's 3-2 defeat by Russia in the Fed Cup final at Roland Garros.

"Elena Dementieva," he told reporters. The combative baseliner was indeed instrumental, winning both singles matches before teaming up with Dinara Safina to beat Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce in the decisive doubles.

"She's Superwoman," Goven said of the pony-tailed 23-year-old, who held her nerve throughout the weekend to inspire Russia to their second successive final win over France.

The elegant Russian was the nearly woman of tennis last year, losing in the French and US Open finals to compatriots Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Last weekend, however, she did everything right, unlike Myskina, who had been the key to Russia's triumph last year but lost both singles matches at Roland Garros.

"Nastya (Anastasia) may have lost but if she had not beaten Venus Williams (in the semi-final), we wouldn't have been here," Dementieva said. "It's not my victory. It's a team effort. All the girls played their part."

With a formidable line-up in former world number one Mauresmo and Pierce, a finalist at this year's French and US Opens, and the support of a partisan crowd, the home team were full of hope.

"Amelie and Mary did not fail but the Russians were just too strong," Goven said.

Record attendances

As well as underlining Russia's strength-in-depth, the Paris final provided a welcome boost to the women's game with record attendances and a fantastic atmosphere.

All 15,000 centre court seats were packed both days.

"The fans were unbelievable," Dementieva said. "Of course they were supporting France but I never felt they were against me.

"When you look up and see 15,000 people watching you and having fun, it is just sensational."

The tie would have been even more glamorous had not world number one Maria Sharapova turned down an invitation to play for Russia this year.

"It's the best players' duty to play for Russia," Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev said. "We have an agreement with Maria Sharapova for 2006. We will see."

Sharapova, however, is not a claycourt specialist and Russia had enough strength in depth to make light of her absence.

"They're amazing," Goven said of the Russians. "It's surprising because they don't have the structures we have and their federation is not as well organised as ours.

"The difference may be that more youngsters there choose tennis to achieve their goals in life instead of trying to become lawyers or doctors.

"We have a great team with a fantastic spirit and a competent staff but we have five or six players to choose from while Russia have 20."