Defending champ France loses at BJK Cup finals, Spain wins
PRAGUE – Canada won the decisive doubles to upset defending champion France 2-1 in the Billie Jean King Cup finals on Monday.
Spain staged a comeback to beat Slovakia 2-1 for the first time after two losses, including the 2002 final. Also, the Czech Republic prevailed in the doubles to overcome Germany 2-1 in Group D, and Belgium beat Belarus 2-1 on the hard courts at the O2 Arena.
After the French and Canadian teams split the opening singles, Gabriela Dabrowski and Rebecca Marino defeated Lara Burel and Alize Cornet 6-3, 7-6 (6).
“We should be really proud of ourselves,” Marino
said.
In the opening singles, the 353th-ranked Francoise Abanda rallied from a set down to upset Fiona Ferro, ranked 105th, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to put Canada ahead.
“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning,” Abanda said. “I’m happy it turned out in my favor.”
Cornet tied it for France after beating Marino 6-4, 7-6 (5).
The victory marked Canada’s first over France since 1980.
Belgium’s Greet Minnen defeated Iryna Shymanovich 6-2, 6-2 and Elise Mertens overcame a second-set scare to beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 for an insurmountable 2-0 lead.
In doubles, Vera Lapko and Aliaksandra Sasnovich
teamed up to take a consolation 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kirsten Flipkens and Mertens.
On Tuesday, Canada faces Russia and Belgium takes on Australia.
Lucie Hradecka and Tokyo Games doubles winner Katerina Siniakova joined forces to beat Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier 6-4, 6 (2)-7, 10-8.
Earlier, three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber came from a set down to defeat French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 6 (5)-7, 6-0, 6-4 to level the tie at 1-1.
“To be here again, it’s a great feeling,” said Kerber, who was on Germany’s team that lost to the Czechs in the 2014 final at the same arena.