Swiss holders beaten by Czechs in Billie Jean King Cup Finals opener, Slovenia overcome Australia

SEVILLE – The Billie Jean King Cup Finals kicked off on Tuesday with a pair of upsets, as the Czech Republic earned an impressive 3-0 victory over defending champions Switzerland while Slovenia beat runners-up Australia 2-1.

Marie Bouzkova and Linda Noskova triumphed in singles matches to give the Czechs an unassailable lead before the doubles rubber in Group A, dubbed the “Group of Death” as it also included record 18-time winners the United States.

Noskova defeated Celine Naef 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-4 in a long battle of two 18-year-old debutantes, before Bouzkova saw off Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-4.

Czech doubles pairing Barbora Krejckova and Katerina Siniakova then beat Golubic and Jil Teichmann 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to cement their perfect start in Seville.

“I came back in the third (set), which is the most important one,” said an exhausted Noskova after 2hr 31min.

The 11-time champions clinched the tie when Bouzkova stepped up at key moments – she saved five of seven break points and converted four out of five herself – to defeat Golubic.

“I’m super happy to get the second point and the win for our team,” said Bouzkova. “(The travelling fans) are so loud, it gives us so much support... I enjoy the team spirit and I’m really happy with this win.”

Switzerland were without world No. 17 Belinda Bencic, who announced last week she was pregnant.

Earlier, Slovenia beat seven-time winners Australia, taking both the singles, but they were pipped in the doubles.

Kaja Juvan and Tamara Zidansek won to get their team off to a winning start on their Finals debut – Juvan defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-1 before Zidansek beat Daria Saville 6-1, 6-4.

Kimberly Birrell and Storm Hunter, the latter arriving only a few hours before the match after travelling from the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, beat Veronika Erjavec and Ela Milic in a first-to-10 super tiebreak 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 10-5.

Juvan has a strong record at the Billie Jean King Cup, recording her 10th victory in 11 matches in singles and doubles.

“I feel really good playing here and I was thinking today, I can’t seem to lose at this (competition),” she said.

Zidansek produced seven aces against Saville as Slovenia moved top of Group B, which also features a solid Kazakhstan team, including 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Hunter, who will finish the season as the world No. 1 in doubles, and Birrell’s doubles victory gave Australia a lifeline.

“It’s been a busy 24 hours,” Hunter said. “It was obviously a quick turnaround but, for me, representing my country is the greatest honour and, honestly, the most amazing thing I can ever do with my tennis career.”

Meanwhile, Italy romped to an unassailable 2-0 lead over France in Group D.

Martina Trevisan gave the Italians the lead by edging out Alize Cornet 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a match lasting 2hr 12min and Jasmine Paolini took 27 minutes longer to defeat Caroline Garcia 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-4. AFP, REUTERS