The Argentine team of the Billie Jean King Cup (former Fed Cup), which will have the return of Nadia Podoroska after a year and a half, will seek to qualify for the 2023 Qualifiers (the step prior to the Finals) when this Friday and Saturday , on the brick dust of the Tucumán Lawn Tennis Club, is measured for the playoffs -in the South American classic- with Brazil, which will present a Top 15, Beatriz Haddad Maia. The country that loses must return to play the continental zone.
The action will begin this Friday, with two singles, from 12 o’clock, with the cross between Podoroska from Rosario (204th) and Haddad Maia (15th), and then Paula Ormaechea from Sunchal (184th) vs. Laura Pigossi (114th). On Saturday the day will begin at 11: two singles and one doubles will be played (all matches will be broadcast by TyC Sports).
The captain of the national team, Mercedes Paz, curiously, decided not to include María Lourdes Carlé (161st) on the first day, despite the fact that she is the team’s number 1 singles player and showed very good performances in the series played last April in Salinas (Ecuador) and in the 3-2 defeat against Kazakhstan in Córdoba (the native of Daireaux, province of Buenos Aires, won her two points, one of them against Elena Rybakina, the last Wimbledon champion). This series against Kazakhstan, precisely, was Podoroska’s last in the team.
Mecha Paz explained why he decided to leave Carlé out of Day 1: “It was a tactical decision. I liked the cross between Paula (Ormaechea) and Pigossi. Of course it was a very difficult decision, because if there is something we have now it is a complete team. Today I have the option to tactically see how one game goes with the other, that’s why I decided to play with Paula in single 1. And I also saw Nachu (Podoroska) very well to play with Haddad Maia”.
Regarding the series against Brazil, the captain stated: “We are prepared to give a great battle. Brazil has a great level, but it’s also difficult for them to play against Argentina, because they know the team is ready to give it all up”.
The captain of Brazil, Roberta Burzagli, referred to the South American classic: “Argentina and Brazil are always rivals, but it is a healthy rivalry. I think that having two teams from South America in this phase is good, because one of the two is going to go on to the next stage”.
Haddad Maia, who this season was WTA champion in Birmingham and Nottingham, highlighted: “It is a pleasure to be here, we are doing good things and improving the level of South America. It will be a very tough game. Nadia is a very complicated rival who made the semifinals of Roland Garros [en 2020]is on her favorite floor in her house and tennis is 50 and 50. I felt good, I liked the conditions on the court, but, as I said before, we both have pressure and everything will be seen on the court”.
