Legend:
There was no lack of support
Belinda Bencic and Co. cheer on Céline Naef in her singles.
IMAGO / Rabbit head
- Switzerland had to admit defeat to the Czech Republic at the start of the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup.
- Céline Naef (against Linda Noskova) and Viktorija Golubic (against Marie Bouzkova) miss an exploit in the singles.
- The final double is available live on SRF zwei.
Switzerland started the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup with a defeat. Without expectant mother Belinda Bencic, who cheered the team on from the sidelines, Viktorija Golubic (WTA 84) was unable to pull off an exploit against Marie Bouzkova (WTA 34) and Céline Naef (WTA 139) in the duel of the debutants against Linda Noskova (WTA 41). . After a good start, Golubic lost 4:6, 4:6.
With the self-confidence of two titles and ten wins in a row – albeit against less high-quality opponents – Golubic quickly took a 2-0 and 3-1 lead, but couldn’t quite maintain the high level. Bouzkova has similar strengths to the 31-year-old from Zurich, but was a little more solid and calm in the end in a high-quality and attractive game.
Naef loses marathon match
Switzerland had already fallen behind after the first individual. In the duel between the youngsters, 18-year-old Céline Naef showed a brilliant performance against 19-year-old Linda Noskova in the hall in Seville against the opponent who was almost 100 positions better. On her debut, Naef had to admit defeat 6:7 (2:7), 6:4, 4:6 after a good two and a half hours.
The Swiss got off to a nervous start and immediately fell behind 1:4. But then she was particularly convincing on her own serve (10 aces and only two more breaks). Nevertheless, she has to be angry about the defeat. After winning the second set, Naef also moved ahead to 4-1 in the decisive third round. After that, centimeters decided against them. Even at 4:5 she had two more chances to equalize.
Due to the capricious weather and the late finish at the WTA Finals in Mexico, the Czechs had to do without three of their best players. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova only arrived in Spain on Sunday, world number 10 Barbora Krejcikova and doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova only arrived on Tuesday.
Now against USA
Even before the final double, it was clear that the Swiss were starting the finals in Seville with a defeat and now needed help in the group of three. Captain Heinz Günthardt’s team must win against the USA on Thursday and then hope that the Americans beat the Czech Republic the following day to make it to the semi-finals for the third year in a row.