2024-11-16 23:30:00
Austria’s women’s tennis team holds the Billie Jean King Cup against the favored Ukraine in Texas at 1:1 after the first day. Tamira Paszek lost to Lesia Zurenko 3:6.5:7 on Saturday. Sinja Kraus equalized with a score of 6:3.5:7.7:5 over Katarina Sawazka. The play-off duel for a place in the qualifying round for the 2025 final tournament will be decided on Sunday; another two singles and a doubles are scheduled.
Kraus has to survive against Zurenko and Paszek against Sawazka. The doubles pairing is Paszek/Kraus against Nadija Kitschenok/Anastasija Soboliewa. Due to the war at home, Ukraine is contesting the international match, which is being held on neutral US soil in McKinney, without its four top 60 players around Elina Svitolina. As 118th in the world rankings, Zurenko is still significantly better placed than all ÖTV representatives.
Paszek started badly against Zurenko and fell behind 0:4, meaning the first set was quickly lost. In the second, the Vorarlberg player was already leading 5-2 and had a set point, but she still lost it. “It’s really a shame. The second set obviously hurts a lot,” said Paszek and regretted some unfortunate balls in the final phase.
Kraus already looked like the supposed winner in the second set against Sawazka, who was just behind her as number 229 in the world. When the score was 5:3 and the Viennese was serving, the thread suddenly broke completely. Austria’s currently best player found her way back on track in the third round and ultimately retained the upper hand after a tough fight.
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