Tennis: Billie Jean King Cup: DTB team leads 2-0 against Brazil

Tennis Billie Jean King Cup: DTB team leads 2-0 against Brazil

Laura Siegemund won her game against the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. photo

© Andre Penner/AP

At the Billie Jean King Cup against Brazil, Laura Siegemund and Tatjana Maria won their opening singles. The German tennis team is about to reach the final round.

The German tennis women got off to a perfect start at the Billie Jean King Cup in Brazil. After the first two singles they lead 2-0 against the hosts.

First, Laura Siegemund won surprisingly clearly against the Brazilian top player Beatriz Haddad Maia 6:4, 6:2. Tatjana Maria then defeated Laura Pigossi 2:6, 6:4, 6:4.

In front of almost 10,000 spectators in the Arena Ginásio Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Haddad Maia in particular seemed nervous. The current number 13 in the world rankings allowed himself 31 slight errors against the experienced Siegemund. “I’ve been on the tour for a long time and it’s incredible to play in front of such a crowd. It doesn’t happen every day,” said the 36-year-old German.

Does Kerber play in doubles?

Maria, also 36 years old, had more work to do against Pigossi and also benefited from her opponent’s physical problems in the third set in the two-and-a-half-hour match. “The atmosphere was great. We have to enjoy these moments. I wish it was like this every week,” said Maria.

With their victories, Siegemund and Maria confirmed their nomination by team boss Rainer Schüttler, who initially only considered returning Angelique Kerber for a possible double. The former world number one would finally play alongside Anna-Lena Friedsam against Haddad Maia and Luisa Stefani. Before that, Maria competes with Haddad Maia and Siegemund with Pigossi. Schüttler can still change the line-up for the final day.

The German Tennis Federation (DTB) team is still missing a win to reach the final round of the nations competition in Seville in November. Last year the German team also won against Brazil in qualifying. In a country comparison, Germany is 5-0.

dpa

#Subjects