Teams from Spain, Romania, Italy, France and the Czech Republic have one foot in the final stage of the Billie Jean King Cup by closing the first day of the qualifying phase with two wins.
As the clashes between Canada and Belgium in Vancouver and the United States against Austria in Delray Beach begin, five teams are close to the goal in the former Federation Cup. Only the match between Germany and Brazil played in Stuttgart ended in a tie with a victory and remains completely up in the air.
Throughout the weekend, eighteen teams claimed nine vacancies for the final stage of the competition to be held in November with Switzerland, champion of the last edition, Australia, finalist, and the host of the final leg of the tournament, still. determine
Spain made a move to return, a year later, to the Finals. He managed in Marbella to close the first day of the confrontation against Mexico with two clear and orderly wins.
The team led by Anabel Medina is undefeated in two matches. Sara Sorribes opened the event and defeated Fernanda Contreras in doubles 6-0 and then Nuria Párrizas took down Renata Zarazúa 6-4 and 6-3.
Spain, which last year was at the door of the semifinals, wants to close the series in the third match, which opens on Saturday, between Párrizas and Contreras.
Italy also took the lead against Slovakia 2-0 in the match in Bratislava thanks to Camila Giorgi and Martina Trevisan. Giorgi, 43 in the world, defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-3 in 86 minutes in the series played at the NTC Arena.
Later, Martina Trevisan secured a crucial victory over Viktoria Hruncakova, 7-6(9) 6-3 to complete Italy’s 2-0 victory on Friday.
The Czech Republic also took advantage of the confrontation with Ukraine, based in Antalya, Turkey. Marketa Vondrousova beat world number 38 Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 before Barbora Krejcikova claimed her first singles victory for her country with a 6-4 6-3 clash with Katarina Zavatska.
Kazakhstan advanced in Astana against Poland, without world number one Iga Swiatek in their ranks. The home team imposed the talent of Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina in the series.
Putintseva regained control of the match after trailing 4-0, 5-2 in the first set to eventually defeat Magda Linette, 7-5 6-3, on the clay of the National Tennis Center in Astana.
That advantage is compounded by the current world number seven player, Rybakina, who extended her impressive start to the year after winning her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon last year.
Romania, leading Slovenia at the Sport Park Bonifika in Koper (0-2) thanks to Ana Bogdan, who trailed local Kaja Juvan (3-6, 6-3 and 6-4), and Jaqueline Adina Cristian, who beat Tamara Zidansek (6-1, 4-6 and 6-3); and France, which ended the fight against the British in Coventry (0-2), is on the verge of the finals.
Caroline Garcia, who defeated Katie Boulter (6-7 (2), 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (2)) and Alize Cornet, who defeated Harriet Dart (7-6 (6) and 7-6 ( 3)), they minimized the local resistance of a team that reached the semifinals last year with their drive.
The most open clash was the one in Stuttgart between Germany and Brazil, who held a 2-0 victory. After Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated Anna Lena Friedsam 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, Laura Pigossi was unrecorded at 0-2. She served to win the South American, but Tatjana Maria reacted and extended the European team’s chances by winning 6-3, 3-6 and 7-5.
Source: La Verdad
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