Moscow, Nov 25: Shaughnessy, ranked 17th, gave an error-strewn performance against in-form Mauresmo, who is riding a wave of confidence after a recent win at Philadelphia and reaching the final of the Masters in Los Angeles.
The American achieved just two points on her opponent's serve in the first set, and lost her opening service game for love in the second.
The Frenchwoman took her foot off the pedal in the third game, allowing Shaughnessy hold her serve to love and keep in touch 2-1.
But Mauresmo increasingly gained confidence as her opponent piled up the errors and took the tie on her second match point as her exhausted rival hit a forehand hopelessly into the net.
Mauresmo, 24, fell to her knees and ran to embrace captain Guy Forget.



"Ending the season like that after what I went through at the end of last year, when I didn't know if I'd play tennis again, it's beyond belief, fabulous," said a tearful Mauresmo.



"I thought about all that, about the team too, and that's why I was crying."



Shaughnessy admitted that she had not made the most of her chances. "I was very tired and it was a very tough match," said Shaughnessy.



"Amelie played very well and I would have really needed to play exceptionally to beat her. I wasn't able to and I think that few players would have been able to today."



French number one Mauresmo and teammate Mary Pierce had given France a 2-0 overnight lead by beating Lisa Raymond 6-4, 6-3, and Shaughnessy 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 respectively.


Bureau Report