The Argentina women’s tennis team lost 3-1 to Brazil in the best-of-five-point series they celebrated in Tucumán for the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs, after defeating Solana Sierra in the second singles match of the day.
Like this, the team led by Mercedes Paz from Tucumán will return to the American zone.
The youngster from Mar del Plata Solana Sierra, just 18 years old and ranked 484 in the WTA ranking, was unable to face the Brazilian Laura Pigossi (114) and lost 6-0 and 6-3 in one hour and 13 minutes of play.
Sierra’s fall added to Lourdes Carlé’s fall to Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3 and 6-3 in the first round for the 1-3 final of the series.
Carlé, born in Daireaux, province of Buenos Aires, and ranked 161st in the world, worked hard for an hour and 47 minutes but could not contain Haddad Maia, from São Paulo, ranked 15th in the world and who is going through the highlight of his career having won two tournaments on the circuit this year, in Nottingham and Birmingham, both in England and on grass.
The South American classic at the Tucumán Lawn Tennis Club facilities was tied after Friday’s first two points in which Haddad Maia beat Rosario’s Nadia Podoroska (204) 6-1, 6-3, and then Paula Ormaechea exited the series after beating Pigossi (114) 6-2 and 7-5.
After those first two points, the Argentina captain opted to replace Ormaechea for the match against Haddad Maia and insert Carlé in her place, while for the second point he removed Podoroska and replaced her with Sierra, considered the greatest promise of Argentine tennis.
Sierra had beaten Pigossi this year in the American zone played in Salinas, Ecuador, and her spirits were higher than Podoroska’s, although the youngster from Mar del Plata was unable to avoid elimination against favorites Brazil.
Argentina and Brazil entered this instance of the playoffs after topping American Zone I that took place in Ecuador this year. With this result, the Argentines will return to the American zone and the Brazilians will win the pass for the 2023 Qualifiers, where they will have the opportunity to re-enter the group of elite nations.
