From needing to win one out of two rubbers to requiring two out of two sets for Romania - Siniakova beat Buzarnescu comfortably in the fourth singles rubber, and the Czechs have just taken set one of the deciding doubles on a tie-break.
Once it got to this stage, the Czechs would have been favourites - their pair, Krejcikova and Siniakova, are the current world no.s 1 and 2 (I think the other way around, Siniakova as the no.1) after winning two of the Slams last year and finishing as runners-up in the Tour Finals. Lots of pressure on the Romanians, as Simona Halep has apparently targeted winning the Fed Cup as her main seasonal priority. She has delivered, but it's looking touch-and-go that her teammates are going to back her up. It will be rather painful for Buzarnescu (played two, lost two) if the tie is lost...
Other results were wins for France in Belgium and Belarus in Germany, both matches decided after the third rubber. Aryna Sabalenka lost just five games in total in winning her two singles rubbers, 2&1 against Petkovic* and 1&1 against Siegemund.
* - my autocorrect keeps wanting to replace Petkovic with Petticoat! Gender bias!!!
Once it got to this stage, the Czechs would have been favourites - their pair, Krejcikova and Siniakova, are the current world no.s 1 and 2 (I think the other way around, Siniakova as the no.1) after winning two of the Slams last year and finishing as runners-up in the Tour Finals. Lots of pressure on the Romanians, as Simona Halep has apparently targeted winning the Fed Cup as her main seasonal priority. She has delivered, but it's looking touch-and-go that her teammates are going to back her up. It will be rather painful for Buzarnescu (played two, lost two) if the tie is lost...
Other results were wins for France in Belgium and Belarus in Germany, both matches decided after the third rubber. Aryna Sabalenka lost just five games in total in winning her two singles rubbers, 2&1 against Petkovic* and 1&1 against Siegemund.
* - my autocorrect keeps wanting to replace Petkovic with Petticoat! Gender bias!!!
Comment