2024-04-08 19:42:56
Ostapenko (WTA 10th) won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7:4) over Francisca George (WTA 190th).
Ostapenko, who opened the match on serve, won the first two games, but the Portuguese won the next two games. After that, both tennis players won their service games until the tenth game, in which Ostapenko won 6-4.
Ostapenko also started the second set with a serve, losing the first game. However, she evened the score in the very next game. Another lost game, serving herself, in the ninth game allowed George to celebrate the victory in the set with 6-4.
Ostapenko also started the third set with a serve, reaching 2-0. In the third and fourth games, the tennis players won the opponent’s service games, but after the fifth game, the Latvian player achieved 4-1.
The tenacious Portuguese won the next three games – 4-4.
After that, both tennis players won their service games, Ostapenko winning the 11th game after 15 games.
The Latvian tennis player celebrated her victory only in the tiebreak, which she won with 7:4.
In the first match, Semenistaja (WTA 110) beat Angelina Voloschuk (WTA 760) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
In the doubles, Ostapenko/Semenistaya is scheduled to meet sisters Francisca and Matilda Georges.
The Latvian national team includes Aļona Ostapenko (WTA 10th), Darja Semenistaj (WTA 110th), Daniela Vismane (WTA 366th), Beatrice Zeltiņa and Adelina Lačinova.
On the other hand, the Portuguese team consists of Francisca George (WTA 190), Matilde George (WTA 551), Angelina Vološchuk (WTA 760), Ana Filipa Santuš (WTA 1112), Maria Garcia (tied 1343).
The tournament of the first group of the European/African zone of the Billie Jean King Cup will take place until April 13, and the Latvians still have to meet the Netherlands and Turkey in the group games.
12 teams compete in Portugal – Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary and Sweden.
Austria, Denmark, Hungary and Bulgaria play together in one group, while Greece was drawn together with Norway, Serbia and Sweden.
The winners of each group secure a ticket to the “play off” round, after which a round-robin tournament is held and the winners of the first three places are determined. The second-placed teams in the groups will determine another team in the round-robin competition, which will enter the “play-off” round. The winners of the third place will play a round-robin tournament among themselves, while the winners of the last three places will be determined by two teams that will play in the second group of Europe/Africa in 2025.
In April 2023, the Latvian national team took seventh place in this competition, keeping its place in the group.
Vismane, Diāna Marcinkēviča, Zeltiņa and Lačinova fought in the Latvian national team under the leadership of national team captain Adriana Žguna.
The tournament in Oeiras takes place on outdoor clay courts.
2024-04-08 19:42:56