Swiss behind: Naef narrowly misses surprise on debut

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Tennis fans were eagerly awaiting to see whether Belinda Bencic would be on the court at the start of the Billie Jean King Cup final after announcing her pregnancy. The answer is no, Céline Naef (WTA 139) is making her debut in the team competition. The 18-year-old from the canton of Schwyz showed a brilliant performance in the Seville hall against Linda Noskova, who was almost 100 positions better, but ultimately lost in just over two and a half hours with 6:7 (2:7) , 6:4, 4:6.

The Swiss got off to a nervous start and immediately found himself 1:4 behind. But then she impressed in a duel between two debutantes and teenagers, especially on her own serve (10 aces and only two breaks). Still, she must be angry about the defeat. After winning the second set, Naef also moved up to 4-1 in the decisive third round. Then the centimeters decide against you. Even at 4:5 she still has two chances to equalize.

Now it’s Golubic’s turn

Due to the erratic weather and the late finish at the WTA Finals in Mexico, the Czechs had to make do without three of their best players. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova only arrived in Spain on Sunday, world number 10 Barbora Krejcikova and doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova only arrived on Tuesday.

Yet the eleven-time champions are still a force. In the second match, the currently strongest Swiss Viktorija Golubic (WTA 84) meets Marie Bouzkova (WTA 34). The past two years the Swiss defeated the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. (SDA)

Source : Blick