HOME nation side and tournament favourites Czech Republic have got home in a thriller over Germany to kick-start their Billie Jean King Cup campaign off on the right note. Possessing the top-ranked player at the event in Barbora Krejcikova, 2019 Roland Garros winner Marketa Vondrousova and doubles duo Katerina Siniakova and Lucie Hradecka, the home nation was always going to be tough to beat, though the Germans gave it a red hot crack.

The first clash saw Vondrousova taking on German second singles player Andrea Petkovic, with the highly fancied rising Czech getting up in straight sets, 6-1 6-3. The match lasted an hour and 17 minutes, with Vondrousova serving six aces to two, and winning 84 and 57 per cent of her first and second serve points compared to Petkovic’s 52 and 33 per cent. She also broke five times compared to one, and hit eight more winners (25-17) and had eight less unforced errors (10-18) in a dominant display.

It was all up to two-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber, who had the job of taking down the red-hot Krejcikova. The first set went right down to the wire into a tiebreaker with the German just falling short of getting a set back, losing 7-5, with the Czech Republic a set away from closing out the tie victory. The second set was something no one saw coming. Kerber was simply unstoppable, smashing her way to a 6-0 set, only dropping nine points, breaking three times, and hitting seven winners for only two unforced errors in a one-way performance. The third set was a lot closer with both players relatively even but two breaks to one proved the difference and Kerber closed out the match 6-7 6-0 6-4, in two hours and 16 minutes.

It all came down to the doubles, with Krejcikova this time sitting out as her usual partner Siniakova opted for Hradecka against the German pairing of Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier. Despite the favourites winning the first set, the Germans forced the higher rated pairing into a Super Tiebreak, with Czech Republic eventually getting up 6-4 6-7 10-8 in an hour and 42 minutes. The Czechs won 73 and 55 per cent of their first and second serve points which was a per cent lower on each account compared to the Germans, but they served at a higher clip (70 to 63 per cent). They also both hit 26 winners and 73 points, with nothing between the sides, though the two-point difference at the end was key to the victory.

CZECH REPUBLIC (2) DEFEATED GERMANY (1)

Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) defeated Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-1 6-3
Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) 6-7 6-0 6-4
L. Hrdecka/K. Siniakova (CZE) defeated A. Friedsam/J. Niemeier (GER) 6-4 7-6 10-8

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Despite coming in understrength losing both Garbine Muguruza and Paula Badosa right before the tournament, Spain managed to account for Slovakia with a 2-1 win thanks to Sara Sorribes Tormo and Carla Suarez Navarro who did double duty in both the singles and doubles on the day. The Slovakians pushed the Spaniards all the way, with each of the three matches going to three sets, but it would not be enough, with the United States the final opponent for both these teams in the group stage.

Opening up the night session was Viktoria Kuzmova who held off a determined Suarez Navarro – who was in her farewell tournament before retiring – by getting up in three sets, 6-2 3-6 6-3. The match lasted an hour and 49 minutes before Kuzmova could celebrate, serving nine aces to three and winning 86 per cent of her first serve points to the Spaniard’s 68 per cent. She also hit 12 more winners (27-15) and only four more unforced errors (43-39), in what was a tight contest. In the end, Kuzmova’s four breaks to two proved the difference.

Saving her nation from defeat, Sorribes Tormo stepped up to the plate against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova with a two-hour and 45-minute victory over three sets. The Spaniard won 6-3 3-6 6-2 to level the overall tie, in what was another thrilling contest. Despite serving at an 80 per cent clip, Sorribes Tormo only won 56 per cent of her first serve points, but managed to scramble upon return, breaking seven times to five, and winning 44 per cent of her opponents’ first serve points. She weathered the power off Schmiedlova’s racket, with the Slovakian smashing 35 winners to 18, but the power player also hit almost double the unforced errors (66-34) in the loss.

Spain had no concerns over player fatigue, opting to send in both Sorribes Tormo and Suarez Navarro for the doubles against Kuzmova and the well-rested Tereza Mihalikova to determine the winner of the overall tie. The Slovakians got off to a fast start to win the opening set 6-4, before the Spaniards cruised in the second set to level the scores at a set apiece. The deciding super tiebreak went down to the wire, but in the end the Spanish duo scrapped home, 4-6 6-2 10-7. They served at a more efficient 78 per cent compared to their opponents’ 66 per cent, also winning 70 to 51 per cent of their first serve points. Despite their dominance on serve, they could only break three times from 14 chances, as Slovakia hit three more winners (19-16), but 23 more unforced errors (44-21). In the end it still went down to the wire, though the best team won on the day.

SPAIN (2) DEFEATED SLOVAKIA (1)

Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) defeated Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-2 3-6 6-3
Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 6-3 3-6 6-2
S. Sorribes Tormo/C. Suarez Navarro (ESP) defeated V. Kuzmova/T. Mihalikova (SVK) 4-6 6-2 10-7

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Picture credit: Daniel Kopatch

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