The German tennis players have reached the final round of the Billie Jean King Cup.
Laura Siegemund scored the decisive third point in the duel with hosts Brazil on Saturday (April 13, 2024 / local time) with a 6:1, 2:6, 6:3 win in the fourth singles match against Carolina Alves. The final round of the traditional national competition will take place in Seville in November. Brazil has to play in playoffs against relegation from the World Group.
Friedsam fights back – and clearly loses
In the third singles, Anna-Lena Friedsam (30) was beaten by top player Beatriz Haddad Maia 7:5, 0:6, 1:6, which meant that Brazil temporarily reduced the duel on clay to 1:2. Friedsam was subsequently nominated by team boss Rainer Schüttler for the third individual instead of Tatjana Maria. She didn’t let herself be unsettled by a 0-4 deficit in the first set and fought back. But from the second round onwards, the world number 13 had. Haddad Maia everything under control.
Already on Friday (local time) Siegemund and Tatjana Maria had given the selection of the German Tennis Association (DTB) a 2-0 lead. Siegemund (36) won surprisingly clearly against Haddad Maia 6:4, 6:2, Maria (36) then defeated Laura Pigossi 2:6, 6:4, 6:4.
Siegemund stays cool against Alves
The 36-year-old Siegemund presented herself with strong nerves in the heated atmosphere of the 10,000-seat Arena Ginásio Ibirapuera, especially in the third set. After 2:36 hours she scored her first match point against Carolina Alves and caused great celebration in the German team.
The victories of Siegemund and Maria also confirmed team boss Schüttler, who had decided against the former world number one Angelique Kerber’s individual appearance. The 36-year-old traveled to Brazil later and needed a little more time to adapt to the time change and the climate. The final double was omitted. Kerber was therefore no longer used when she returned to the DTB team after her maternity leave.
“The finals are still a long time away, we’re happy to have won here,” said team boss Schüttler, looking ahead to the finals in Seville from November 12th to 17th: “We’ll see what happens in a few months what’s coming our way. Anything is always possible.”
2024-04-14 06:22:35
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