Czech tennis team will not play Billie Jean King Cup final after loss to Switzerland

While the Czech floorball players declassed Switzerland 10:3 in their semi-final on Saturday, their countrywomen with tennis rackets lost to the representatives of the Helvetic Cross country. They therefore did not qualify for the final of the Billie Jean King Cup in Glasgow due to losses in both singles matches against Australia.

Captain Petr Pála chose the same combination as in Thursday’s duel with Poland. Karolína Muchová and Karolina Plíšková were nominated for singles, while Kateřina Siniaková and Markéta Vondroušová were nominated for doubles. However, they did not make it to the hard court at the Emirates Arena.

The match between Muchova and Viktorija Golubic, the 149th and 77th players in the world rankings, started two hours later than originally scheduled. A long battle in the previous semi-final involving Great Britain and Australia was to blame.

The native of Olomouc did not enter the match played from 7 p.m. our time well. She was down 0:3 within moments. After that she managed to improve her performance and reduce the score, but lost the opening set 4::6.

The second set was even from the start, with both opponents taking serve twice. The turning point came at 3::3 when Muchová lost her serve again, and this time she was unable to respond. In the end, she lost again 4::6 and Golubic secured the first Swiss point.

Pliskova, who is currently ranked 32nd in the WTA singles rankings, went into her match with Belinda Bencic in a difficult situation. In the first act, the world number 12 reached three break points, so she was not bothered by any of her lost serves. She defeated Pliskova 2: 6.

But then the Swiss stopped doing so well and the former world number one, born in Louny, built up a 5:2 lead in the second set. But even that was not enough. The Olympic champion from Tokyo took the set to a tiebreak and won it 8:6.

Thus, Pliskova lost in her third appearance at this event. The final doubles match was not held due to the decided situation.

The Swiss national team will repeat their final appearance from last year, when they lost to the eliminated Russian team at the O2 Arena in Prague. This time the selection of captain Heinz Günthardt will challenge the Australians.

The tennis players from the land of the opposing countries enjoyed the semi-final victory only after a dramatic doubles match. In a 1:1 tie, Storm Sanders and Samantha Stosur defeated Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls 7:6, 6:7 and 10:6 in a super-tiebreak. Sunday’s climax of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals 2022 is scheduled for 3pm.

Source:: CT Sport, Billie Jean King Cup, WTA