Malaga | Slovakia down Workforce GB to succeed in BJK Cup Remaining in opposition to Italy

It was a disappointing Tuesday for Nice Britain, who fell 2-1 to Slovakia within the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge remaining in Malaga, dashing hopes of the staff enhancing on their Final 4 look in Glasgow in 2022.

We now have nothing to lose, so we’re going simply to get pleasure from to the fullest. Rebecca Sramkova

For the second time on the World Cup of Tennis this week, Slovakia, who gained their first title in 2002, got here from 0-1 right down to advance, after Emma Raducanu put Nice Britain forward with a win over Viktoria Hruncakova, and Rebecca Sramkova defeated Katie Boulter from a set down, setting the stage for a deciding doubles wherein Hruncakova partnered Tereza Mihalikova to defeat Olivia Nicholls & Heather Watson, and ship Slovakia by means of to satisfy Italy on Wednesday.

“Completely particular second for our nation, for our gamers, for tennis in Slovakia,” Captain Matej Liptak stated afterwards. “It’s so a few years after we gained it as soon as solely, and personally me, I used to be so near [taking Slovakia] to the ultimate as soon as already [in 2013].

“However in the present day it’s actually actual, and we’re only one step from the perhaps largest victory of our staff or staff members.

“We’ll attempt to get pleasure from it tomorrow, and it’s unbelievable pleased. The staff is unbelievable pleased, and we’ll attempt to get pleasure from additionally this second now.”

Britain gave the impression to be heading for his or her first remaining within the competitors since 1981, with Raducanu’s opening 6-4 6-4 win over Hruncakova, and Boulter taking the primary set in opposition to Sramkova, however the British No 1 couldn’t preserve her type and went down, 2-6 6-4 6-4.

© Nathan Stirk/Getty Pictures for LTA

Raducanu’s return after a 2 month hiatus has been spectacular, having injured her foot in her opening event of the Asian swing in Korea in September, and never taking part in a aggressive match till the Billie Jean King Cup, the place she has been close to flawless, and has not dropped a set in her 3 appearances.

“In fact, I wished to proceed within the Asia swing,” stated Raducanu. “I believe I used to be taking part in some good tennis once more in Seoul, and I used to be actually feeling fairly good on these courts on the market.

“Sadly I injured my foot. There have been so many tournaments, and I wasn’t defending any factors on the again finish of the 12 months, so, in fact, I wished to play. I believe I simply took the time, and used it in a extremely proactive and productive means.

“I come again now, I really feel, like, every part occurs for a purpose. It gave me time to work on sure issues. Two days in the past I served 10 aces, for instance, which I did in Seoul in my final match, but it surely’s been a piece in progress. It doesn’t simply occur in a single day.

“The largest problem after a protracted lay off is extra the introduction to match play once more,” she added. “It’s so completely different. The distinction between a follow match and an actual stakes match, that’s one other transition.”

In opposition to Hruncakova, the 2021 US Open champion raced out to hefty leads of 5-1 within the first set, and 5-2 within the second, and, regardless of wobbling in closing each out on the first time of asking, she made no mistake the second time spherical in opposition to the No 238-ranked Slovakian, whose firepower was best when her again was to the wall.

“My opponent has an enormous ball strike and regardless of her rating, she performs a lot above that,” stated Raducanu. “I used to be actually happy with how I composed myself and served it out in each units.”

Rebecca Sramkova levelled the tie for Workforce Slovakia with a come-back 3-set win over British No 1 Katie Boulter on Tuesday

© Jorge Guerrero/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

An in-form Sramkova then continued her run with a 2-6 6-4 6-4 come-back win over Boulter in a battle of the tie’s 2 high gamers.

Neither had misplaced a set of their 2 earlier rubbers, and Sramkova was the primary to provide floor as Boulter delivered a near-flawless opener, slamming 14 winners to the Slovakian’s 5, and seemingly effectively on her method to sealing a British victory as she broke once more within the 1st recreation of the second set.

28-year previous Sramkova, although, who has reached her first 3 WTA finals prior to now 3 months, successful the title in Hua Hin, then roared again, leaping out to a 4-1 lead within the second, and 3-1 within the third, solely to be pegged again by Boulter each instances.

The Slovakian managed to carry her nerve, and the Sramkova backhand proved key on seeing her means by means of after 2 hours and 11 minutes.

“She was taking part in wonderful within the first set,” stated Sramkova later. “It was robust for me to play rallies, to do something I need. I used to be attempting to push her extra, and it was inconceivable within the first set. I’m pleased that I used to be pushing extra within the second and third.”

Viktoria Hruncakova & Tereza Mihalikova sealed Slovakia’s place within the Billie Jean King Cup Remaining by beating Britain’s Olivia Nicholls & Heather Watson within the deciding doubles

© Fran Santiago/Getty Pictures for ITF

All of it got here right down to the deciding doubles rubber, wherein Hruncakova & Mihalikova proved the stronger pair, simply defeating Heather Watson & Olivia Nicholls, 6-2 6-2.

It was the British pair’s first outing collectively of the competitors, and so they confronted Nicholl’s tour doubles companion, Mihalikova in an encounter that they delivered the 2-1 win for Slovakia.

Hruncakova & Mihalikova had overcome the USA within the opening spherical in a dramatic match tiebreak, and their match rhythm was evident in opposition to the Brits.

The eventual winners raced out to a 4-0 lead within the first set, and, exterior of a maintain of serve for Nicholls & Watson to start out set two, they by no means trailed in a match that lasted simply 73 minutes.

“I believe simply realising that we’re into the finals,” Mihalikova stated later. “I imply, we had been pleased after every spherical, however in the present day we performed for the finals.  It’s clearly larger.

“After our first singles, you recognize, we had been a bit of bit farther from it, however then Rebecca [Sramkova] gave us an opportunity.  I used to be really enthusiastic about the feelings after we end, how it could really feel if we might be within the finals.  It got here true, so I used to be simply very pleased.”

Hruncakova added: “Yeah, it was wonderful, you recognize, to make that remaining level, to get to finals.  It was completely wonderful.  We’re all simply so pleased that it labored out on this deciding doubles.”

Slovakia will contest the Billie Jean King Cup Remaining for the primary time in 22 years once they face 4-time champions Italy, who defeated Poland, 2-1, within the different semi-final that was performed on Monday.

“We now have nothing to lose, so we’re going simply to get pleasure from to the fullest,” Sramkova stated.

Workforce GB’s Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu steered their staff into the Final 4 of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals however then fell to Slovakia

© Nathan Stirk/Getty Pictures for LTA

Nice Britain could also be upset to be out of the Billie Jean King Cup once they had been eyeing up a spot within the remaining, however they go away Malaga understanding they’ve a successful staff for subsequent 12 months.

“I believe we had been proper there,” Raducanu stated. “A couple of factors, type of, swung it within the second singles, however Boults has been taking part in nice singles matches. We now have been successful in singles the final two ties, and didn’t even want a doubles.

“I believe we undoubtedly have a successful staff. I believe we are able to enhance sure issues however, total, I believe we did a extremely good job and there’s a lot of positives to take.”

Day 7 Outcomes

Semi-final – Slovakia defeated Nice Britain 2-1

• Emma Raducanu (GBR) d. Viktoria Hruncakova (SVK) 6-4 6-4
• Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) d. Katie Boulter (GBR) 2-6 6-4 6-4
• Viktoria Hruncakova/Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) d. Olivia Nicholls/Heather Watson (GBR) 6-2 6-2

Slovakia will meet Italy within the Remaining on Wednesday