Grand slam champions Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova have comfortably received their opening matches to assist Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic respectively take 2-Zero leads within the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
Kazakhstan stamped their authority over Poland on clay at dwelling, taking full benefit of world No.1 Iga Swiatek’s absence for the Poles resulting from harm as Yulia Putintseva shocked Magda Linette 7-5 6-Three earlier than Rybakina doubled their benefit.
Wimbledon champion Rybakina fired 9 aces and received three out of six break factors in her 6-Three 6-Four victory over Weronika Falkowska to place Kazakhstan in full management forward of the ultimate day’s motion.
The most effective-of-five qualifiers characteristic two singles matches on Friday and two reverse singles on Saturday plus a doubles rubber.
“Magda is a quite tough participant so it’s going to be a tough match,” Rybakina mentioned, looking forward to her conflict with Linette.
“I hope immediately’s match will enable me to really feel extra assured tomorrow. I am going to put together and hope that I am going to have the ability to win.”
France took a 2-Zero lead over hosts Britain as world No.5 Caroline Garcia first battled to a 6-7 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) win over Katie Boulter in a marathon lasting three hours 26 minutes.
“Three tiebreaks simply says how tight the match was. Katie performed rather well, I simply needed to battle and keep within the match,” WTA Finals winner Garcia mentioned.
Her compatriot Alize Cornet then beat Harriet Dart 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-3) to increase France’s lead.
Czech Republic’s former Roland Garros runner-up Marketa Vondrousova beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 within the Turkish metropolis of Antalya the place the groups are taking part in as a result of warfare in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.
Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, then eased previous Ukraine’s Katarina Zavatska 6-Four 6-3.
The 27-year-old, who mentioned she has been supporting the folks of Ukraine through the battle, additionally pledged her earnings from the qualifiers to the folks in Turkey affected by the devastating earthquake in February.
Spain led Mexico 2-Zero after Sara Sorribes Tormo thrashed Fernanda Contreras Gomez 6-Zero 6-Zero earlier than Nuria Parrizas Diaz beat Renata Zarazua 6-Four 6-3.
In Stuttgart, Germany misplaced the primary match in opposition to Brazil however leveled the tie with victory within the second sport.
Anna-Lena Friedsam received the primary set in opposition to Beatriz Haddad Maia however ended up shedding 6-Three 4-6 3-6.
Tatjana Maria then did not waste her likelihood to tie the matchup and defeated Laura Pigossi 6-Three 3-6 7-5.
The US, who’ve received extra titles than every other nation within the competitors with 18, face Austria whereas Italy performs Slovakia and Canada takes on Belgium.
The 9 profitable nations from the qualifiers will be part of defending champions Switzerland and 2022 runners-up Australia at this 12 months’s Finals, which is able to happen from November 7-12.
The 12th nation competing on the finals can be introduced as soon as a bunch has been confirmed.
