Billie Jean King Cup 2021: Slovakia was not enough for Spain (votes) – SME.sk

PRAGUE. Slovak captain Matej Lipták probably surprised many.

When Billie told Jean King at a press conference before the start of the Cup that he was determined who to send to the court, he might not have been surprised and nominated a team unit and a two for singles.

That is, Anna Karolína Schmiedlová and Kristína Kučová.

It was even more surprising when he published the nomination and the name of Viktoria Kužmová shone into the doubles match. Currently up to the fourth best Slovak.

It seemed a bit like a decision, despite the ranking and form from the current season. In the end, it was a great tactical move.

The right choice

Kužmová unexpectedly defeated the experienced former top 10 member Carla Suarez Navarro. Although she is currently in the fourth hundred of the WTA rankings and has announced the end of her career, it was clear on the court that she still lacks quality.

“Probably everyone expected someone else to play,” Lipták admitted after the meeting.

“Of course, I had a dilemma about who to play. I chose the alternative with Viki, because the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King’s Cup, note) is a heartbeat for her and she can show performances that are above standard compared to what she shows on the circuit, “he added.

After the first singles, Slovakia took the lead 1: 0. The way to an unexpected and important win seemed to be opening the way.

No difference strike

Anna Karolína Schmiedlová went to a duel of team units in a better position. She lost the first set against senior Sarah Sorribes Torm (37th player in the WTA rankings, note), but then won the second.

The match was incredibly long. Each set lasted almost an hour.

Both players are used to long matches. Sorribes Torm perhaps has no limits. Comparisons of how much time he spends on the court are regularly circulated on social networks.

“She looks like she could handle a five-hundred-dollar match,” said an RTVS commentator.

The end of the meeting turned out better for the Spaniards. Schmiedlová thus confirmed that this opponent is definitely not one of her favorites. He already has a 0: 3 balance with her.

“I’m sorry, but I expected that if I wanted to beat her, I had to go to the very bottom of my strength. I know her very well, it’s very difficult with her. I don’t have such an aggressive game or a final punch that would help me,” she said. disappointed Schmiedlová after the match.

“I have nothing to blame, but I will definitely regret it, it was an important match,” added the Košice native.

Captain Matej Lipták also agreed with the evaluation. According to him, the match would be broken if Schmiedlová had one significantly strong blow. “If Kaja had one extra punch, it could have been the difference,” he said.

Assembly changes

Great hopes were thus focused on doubles. Slovakia started in the expected line-up with Viktória Kužmová and Tereza Mihalíková. There is no one else in the Slovak team who would play doubles regularly.

However, the surprise came from the Spanish side. It was to be expected that the couple Nuria Parrizasová-Diazová and Rebeka Masárová would not actually enter the court. Well, coming to play a duo that had just played singles just before that also didn’t seem real.

Sorribesová Tormová, who was chasing Schmiedlová on the court for three hours, also started in doubles after a half-hour break. Suarez Navarro played by her side.

The Slovaks started great. They won the first set. However, the second did not work out for them. The supersecret was deciding up to ten points. The Spaniards were already leading 9: 3, when the Slovaks were still drawing hope for a turnaround. Gradually reduced to 7: 9. However, they did not add another point. They lost.

The players cried

Mihalíková, in particular, found it difficult to bear. It was the premiere for her in the national team in the open state. So far, she has played two doubles in the Fed Cup, but always in an irreversible state. Now it was in a situation where it was all about.

“It was a very difficult match, a very sad loss … I can’t do it today …” Mihalíková said at the press conference and bowed her head.

There were tears in her eyes. “That’s fine,” more experienced teammate Viktória Kužmová comforted her and quickly grabbed the microphone.

“It was a difficult match, we are both very sad. Also because we fought a lot. A few balls decided,” Kužmová added.

Both tennis players were crying. None of the journalists present asked anything else. A few sentences they said illustrated how difficult it is to lose.

Only Captain Matej Lipták remained at the press conference.

“Baby summed up what actually happened. We’re sad. There were chances, we could have won. I don’t like to argue, I’m not the type, but I don’t think we were lucky.” Maybe if a few balls turned out differently, “he said.

“But I don’t want to argue about it,” he stressed again. “We felt we could win,” he concluded.

Maybe change the lineup

Despite the loss, Slovakia’s chances are not lost. Only the winners will advance from the group. It will be important for the Slovaks to beat the US players on Tuesday. In the format of three teams in a group, it can happen that each country will have one win each.

In that case, the number of matches, sets or even games won would also be decisive. Since the Slovaks played close fights, they are not in a hopeless situation from this point of view.

Captain Lipták admitted that the line-up will be decided after talks with the players. “Victoria understood that she might play four games in two days,” he suggested.

Kužmová is a clear Slovak unit in doubles, her non-participation in it would be a big surprise. However, there are several options in singles.

Kristína Kučová knows the Americans well from the matches on the circuit. She has played with all three of the best this season. She lost to Shelby Rogers and Danielle Collins. She only defeated Sloane Stephens.

Rebecca Šramková is again in the ranking almost right next to Kužmová. The captain can therefore reach for several currencies. It has minimal space to choose from only in doubles.

Šramková belongs to the fifth hundred, Schmiedlová to the seventh, Kučová does not even have a position in the ranking.

“It will be an even better opponent than today, but that, of course, does not mean that we cannot win,” said Matej Lipták.

Slovakia will play against the USA from 17.00. Nominations must be announced by captains one hour before the meeting.