Slovakia created the first surprise of the final phase of the BJK Cup Tennis in Malaga on Thursday, beating the United States 2-1 in the first round, the most successful nation in this national team competition with 18 crowns.
Thanks to this second victory snatched in the early morning against the “Team USA”already defeated in 2021 during the only confrontation between the two selections, the Slovaks qualify for the quarter-finals, which will see them challenge SundayAustralia.
The evening had started badly for the players of Matej Liptakwith the logical defeat of the young Renata Jamrichova (17 years old and ranked 375th), dominated 7-5, 6-4 by Taylor Townsend (69ᵉ). But the surprise victory of Rebecca Sramkova (43ᵉ) against Danielle Collins (11ᵉ) in the second singles (6-2, 7-5) restarted the Slovakiawinner of the competition in 2002.
The pair of doubles Viktoria Hruncakova/Tereza Mihalikova then snatched the decisive point for the European selection, thanks to a 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 success against the American duo composed ofAshlyn Kruegernovice in BJK Cupand Taylor Townsend5th player in the world in doubles.
At 9-2 in the tie-break, the Slovaks seemed to have won the match, but the American came back to 9-8, before their opponents finally concluded the game on their seventh match point.
Earlier today, the Japan had also managed to overcome the loss of the first single against the Romania to finally win 2-1 and secure a quarter-final scheduled for Saturday againstItaly of Jasmine Paolinifinalist of the competition in 2023.
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