The Swiss women's tennis team dreams of winning the Billie Jean King Cup

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Belinda Bencic, Jil Teichmann and Viktorija Golubic are the three figureheads of the Swiss national team.

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The Swiss captain Hein Günthardt (62) believes that his girls are ready to win the cup for the first time.

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Belinda Bencic is the team leader, although she has not played a game since her knee injury.

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On Tuesday, Switzerland will meet Team Germany, consisting of Angelique Kerber (WTA 9), Andrea Petkovic (WTA 76), Anna-Lena Friedsam (WTA 93), Jule Niemeier (WTA 134), Nastasja Schunk (WTA 297) and Captain Rainer Shaker exists.

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Winning the international team competition, renamed from Fed Cup to Billie Jean King Cup, would be a first for Switzerland. The men around Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka showed their colleagues how to do it in 2014 with the only Davis Cup victory in Swiss history. Now – 19 months after qualifying for the final round – Belinda Bencic (WTA 17), Jil Teichmann (39), Viktoria Golubic (45) and Stefanie Vögele (116) also want the prestigious world championship.

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There are four hurdles to get there this week, the first one you have to take today, Tuesday. Against neighbor Germany, which under the new Captain Rainer Schüttler with Angelique Kerber (WTA 9) and Andrea Petkovic has two experienced team leaders, but only one top 50 player.

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“We have certainly caught one of the most difficult draws,” says Captain Günthardt – especially with regard to the second group game against the host Czech Republic, which has won six of the last nine events. And yet the 62-year-old has full confidence in his team. «Our opponents certainly didn’t want us either. As a team, we believe that we are good enough to win the cup. That is ambitious, “says Günthardt,” but we have been working together towards this goal for several years. “

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There have been better moments

He expects an open but good starting position with the “currently strongest players I have at my disposal”. Even if he admits that there have already been moments this year when his girls were in better shape. As a reminder: Golubic triumphed in Wimbledon (quarter-finals), Bencic shone in the Olympic victory and Teichmann reached the final in Cincinnati.

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In the last few weeks, however, Teichmann, Golubic and Vögele have had a hard time. And Bencic returns from a knee injury with no preparation. Günthardt believes, however, undeterred: “Vicky often played very well in the Fed Cup. Jil is very dangerous when she’s found in a tournament. And Belinda has so much experience that she doesn’t need long to be in top form again. “

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The mode of the BJK Cup
There are 12 nations playing, divided into four groups. The first four of the group matches, which are played with 2 singles and 1 double each, qualify for the semi-finals on Friday. On Saturday, November 6th the final rises.

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Switzerland program (Group D)
Tuesday: Switzerland – Germany – from 5 p.m.
Thursday: Switzerland – Czech Republic – from 5 p.m.

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Germany lost their first group game against the Czech Republic on Monday 2-1, so they are already under pressure against Switzerland.

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This is how the Billy Jean King Cup works

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The Swiss women’s tennis team dreams of winning the Billie Jean King Cup

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