China was rudely woken from it's Fed Cup dream yesterday by Spain, falling 4-1 at the Beijing International Tennis center.
Without top star Li Na, who had knee surgery in Germany last week, the host team was no match for five-time champion Spain as it lost three consecutive matches without winning a single set.
World No 68 Peng Shuai bowed to Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 34 minutes yesterday. Peng and Zheng Jie were both smashed in straight-sets on Saturday.
"I am sorry about that. I am very disappointed about the result," said Peng, who lost to world No 132 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the first match of the tie.
"I played OK today and did my best but she simply played too well and didn't give me any chance to beat her."
World No 76 Vives jumped to an early lead in the first set, breaking Peng in the opening game and game three, before taking the first set in 41 minutes.
Peng, who has suffered four first-round exits this season, managed to exchange breaks in the second set, but it was the fighting Vives who broke again to take a 4-3 lead and went on to pocket the set 6-4.
"She is a consistent opponent, but I on the other hand made too many unforced errors," Peng said.
"It's been tough recently so I just want to focus on the ball and try to return to form before the Olympics."
Vives, who won her second and biggest Tour singles title at the Tier III Bogota Open in February, said team spirit was key to the victory.
"We knew we could win but we never expected to finish the first day 2-0 up and be 3-0 up on the second day," Vives said.
"We have been very focused and if you watched our training over the past week in Beijing, you'd understand we had the power to win this tie.
"We are a great team right now. Everybody gets along with each other, that's why the morale in the team is really high this time. I am sure team spirit was the key to winning the tie."
Team captain Miguel Margets Lobato said he believed the Spanish were capable of going on to lift the Fed Cup, even against tennis powerhouse Russia, which beat the US 3-0 yesterday.
"Russia is a very strong team right now with four top 10 players," Margets said. "But after winning against China this weekend, we proved we are a title contender as well.
"No matter what our former glories are, we are putting in a lot of effort now and we don't give up. We will not be afraid of the Russian team. We play with passion and will have a chance to win."
(China Daily April 28, 2008)