Published on
in Brussels (Belgium)
On paper, the task of the Belgians in the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup (the former tennis Fed Cup) promised to be complicated with duels against Australia by Ashleigh Barty and Belarus by Aryna Sabalenka. . But neither the world No. 1 nor her runner-up will be present in Prague. Therefore, Johan Van Herck’s gang, led by Elise Mertens (WTA 20), seems to have the potential to win group B and thus reach the semi-finals. After two postponements due to the coronavirus pandemic, the phase final of the Billie Jean King Cup, contested over a week in one and the same place as the Davis Cup, will finally be able to be held on the courts of the O2 Arena in Prague. The Belgians will start their course against Belarus on Monday at 10:30 am. Each match is played in the best of three matches, with two singles and a double on the program. The Belgian team will continue on Tuesday against Australia (10:30 am). Australia and Belarus will meet on Thursday in the group’s final duel. The winner of each of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals. Besides Mertens, Van Herck selected Greet Minnen (WTA 69), Ysaline Bonaventure (WTA 143) and Kirsten Flipkens (WTA 154). Alison Van Uytvanck (WTA 61) preferred to stay active on the WTA circuit. Belarus will therefore have to do without Sabalenka, 23 years old and already 10 WTA titles, but also the experienced Victoria Azarenka (WTA 27), 32 years old, former world No. 1 and 21 titles on the clock, including the Open d ‘ Australia twice. It is therefore Aliaksandra Sasnovich (WTA 86) who will be the leader of her team. The 27-year-old will be joined by Yuliya Hatouka (WTA 228), Iryna Shymanovich (WTA 267) and Lidziya Marozava (WTA 87 doubles). Australian captain Alicia Molik will also have to deal with the absence of her leader “Ash” Barty. Therefore, the “aussie” selection is led by Ajla Tomjlanovic (WTA 43), eliminated in the second round this week in Cluj-Napoca, and completed by Storm Sanders (WTA 120), Ellen Perez (WTA 199), Olivia Gadecki (WTA 234) and Daria Gavrilova (WTA 411). The latter, formerly 20th in the world, has not played since the Australian Open due to an Achilles tendon operation. This final phase suffers from numerous brand absences. Indeed, the Czechs Karolina Pliskova (WTA 3) and Petra Kvitova (WTA 17) will not play in front of their home crowd. American Sofia Kenin (WTA 15), Canadians Bianca Andreescu (WTA 22) and Leylah Fernandez (WTA 26) as well as Spain’s Garbine Muguruza (WTA 5) and Paula Badosa (WTA 13) are also absent. From then on, Russia, with five top 50 players, advances as one of the favorites to succeed France, winner in 2019. (Belga)
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