TNT Sports
Fernandez returns
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Published 19/05/2005 at 18:53 GMT+1
Once upon a time Clarisa Fernandez became the first unseeded semi-finalist at Roland Garros since Jennifer Capriati in 1990. That was in 2002, but since then the 23-year-old has struggled with injuries. On Thursday at Roland Garros, Eurosport talked to th
Eurosport
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In 2003 she suffered a major right knee injury that kept her off the courts for most of the season and eventually required surgery after the 2004 Australian Open.
She returned to play Roland Garros qualifying last May but injured her left knee. A second operation kept her off the courts until the New Year.
Earlier this year, Fernandez reached the semi-finals of the Bogota Open, which was her best result since her semi-final run at the French almost three seasons ago.
A WELCOME RETURN
Microphone in hand, Eurosport's James Buddell fell upon a Fernandez match mid-battle.
On three occasions Spanish opponent Laura Pous Tio was one point from the final round of qualifying for the second major championship of the season.
But on all three occasions Fernandez kept her nerve to hold on for a two-hour 37-minute victory 1-6 7-5 10-8.
Having signed dozens of autographs, Fernandez spoke to Eurosport about her confidence-boosting victory.
"I'm so happy to have come through it," the world No 214 told Eurosport.
"I really had to fight for every point at the end of a very long match and remember to strike through the ball with my strokes."
But the Fernandez was full of praise for her beaten opponent.
"She [Pous Tio] is a very good player so to come back from three match points down I'm very relieved.
"I don't know who I'm playing next as I've been taking once but match at a time, but I'm just happy to be one match away from the main draw."
Fernandez is now one match away from the main draw and has a great opportunity to qualify when she meets Finn Emma Laine, a 6-2 6-2 victor over American wild card Mary Gambele, on Friday.
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