Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova rejoice profitable their doubles match in opposition to Danielle Collins and Taylor Townsend of the U.S.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova despatched the Czech Republic into the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup by beating American duo Danielle Collins and Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-5 of their decisive doubles match.
Siniakova and Krejcikova accomplished a 2-1 comeback in opposition to the U.S. crew on the indoor laborious court docket in Seville to get rid of the Americans. The Czechs will face Canada in Saturday’s semifinals. Italy will face Slovenia within the different semifinal on the indoor laborious court docket in Seville.
“The U.S. were there, just waiting for the winning moment,” said Czech captain Petr Pala. “It got to the wire and it could have gone either way, but we have a world-class doubles team.” Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, has additionally paired with Siniakova to win seven main doubles titles together with this 12 months’s Australian Open. Their champion pedigree confirmed in a dominant efficiency that included changing six of eight break factors.
“I was very happy when we sealed the winning point today,” Siniakova said, before talking about her continued success with Krejcikova.
“Everyone wants to beat us, and they are coming and trying to find things. I wouldn’t say our partnership is natural. You just need to work hard and we both like practicing and trying to improve ourselves, which is a big part.”
Siniakova had started the day by losing to Collins, who won their opening singles match 6-3, 6-2 to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead in a matchup to decide which teams would advance from Group A. But Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova pulled the Czechs level at 1-1 after she brushed aside Sofia Kenin 6-1, 6-1.
It was the final appearance for U.S. captain Kathy Rinaldi, who will be replaced by Linsday Davenport after having led the team for seven years, the fourth longest stint in team history.
“I loved my position as captain. I’ll miss it greatly,” Rinaldi mentioned. “My saying was ‘What happens at Billie Jean King Cup stays at Billie Jean King Cup.’ So I’m not giving anything away.”
These are the the 2 most profitable groups within the competitors’s historical past — the U.S. has probably the most titles with 18 and the Czechs the second most with 11. But the Czechs have now received their final three conferences with the Americans.
The Americans have been with out their two highest-ranked gamers. No. 3 Coco Gauff and No. 5 Jessica Pegula each performed within the WTA finals in Mexico, which completed simply earlier than the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
The U.S. beat defending champion Switzerland of their group-phase opener on Thursday.
Canada superior by profitable its two matches over Spain and Poland in Group C earlier this week.
Slovenia made it to the semifinals for the primary time regardless of dropping 2-1 to Kazakhstan.
Slovenia completed atop Group B thanks to the very best units win-loss report of the three groups after Slovenia, Kazakhstan and Australia all completed with a 1-1 report and with three match victories every.
“It’s pretty unbelievable that we’re here,” mentioned Slovenia’s Kaja Kuvan, whose 6-1, 6-0 win over Anna Danilina helped ship her crew by means of. “I don’t think any of us dreamed of the semifinal.” France beat Germany 3-0 with each having already been eradicated in group D, the place winner Italy superior after beating each rivals earlier this week.
France’s Clara Burel beat Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-3, whereas Germany’s Tatjana Maria had to retire from her match in opposition to Varvara Gracheva.
