Following the Billie Jean King Cup tennis this Wednesday, on the courts of Glasgow.
Switzerland and Spain got off to a good start in the final phase of the Billie Jean King Tennis Cup while Slovakia recovered in Group B by beating Belgium (2-1) on Wednesday in Glasgow.
In Group A, the Helvetians, beaten last year in the final of the ex-Fed Cup by the team of the Russian Federation, dominated Italy 3 wins to 0. Jil Teichmann, 35th in the WTA ranking , put the Swiss team on the right track by overcoming Elisabetta Cocciaretto (65th) with great difficulty after a bitter duel lasting more than three hours. She had to save a match point at 5-2 in the third set before winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5). Belinda Bencic (12th) finished the job with less difficulty against Jasmine Paolini (59th), beaten 7-5 6-3. “It’s a great feeling. I’m super happy, super relieved to have won this important point for our team. I knew when I got here it would be a fightcommented Teichmann. Switzerland takes the lead in its group.
In Group C, Spain, which also entered the competition, dominated Kazakhstan. But Nuria Parrizas-Diaz against Yulia Putintseva then Paula Badosa against Elena Rybakina, titled this year at Wimbledon, each had to fight three sets. If the Spaniards beat Great Britain on Thursday, they will secure their place in the semi-finals.
Belgium saves honor in doubles
In group B, the Slovaks Viktoria Kuzmova and Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, beaten the day before in their singles by the Australians without having won a single set, rectified the situation against Belgium, beating Ysaline Bonaventure and Maryna Zanevska respectively. The Belgians saved the honor in the doubles, easily won by the pair formed by Elise Mertens, who had just returned from Texas where she won the doubles Masters, and Kirsten Flipkens. For the Slovaks as for the Belgians, the rest will depend on the outcome of the last meeting of the group, between Belgium and Australia.
Twelve nations divided into four groups of three compete in the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. The first of the four pools qualify for the semi-finals, which will take place on Saturday, before the final scheduled for Sunday.