Players Suzan Lamens, Arantxa Rus, Anouk Koevermans and Demi Schuurs have been vaccinated. “And I just received a whole package from our doctor with all kinds of disinfectants and anti-mosquito stuff. You have malaria, dengue, another mosquito,” says Tamaëla during a press moment at the National Tennis Center in Amstelveen. “And we only eat in the hotel. We take a look in the kitchens beforehand.”
The aim of the matches with India and Slovenia in Bengaluru is to maintain their place in the World Group of the country tournament. This requires group profit. This would mean that the tennis players can try to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals again early next year.
Bad memories of India
Leader Lamens played in India once before, in Mumbai, and had bad memories of it. “Then I got sick and threw up on the track. Then I was also in a good hotel and had just eaten there, but it still went wrong. But this time we are well prepared. And I hear from everyone who has ever been to Bengaluru that it is one of the better places in India. So I am not worried about that.”
According to Lamens, the Netherlands is “on paper” the favorite for the group win. “But I have played against those Slovenian girls before and they are good. And in such a team match you never really know what can happen.”
Last year, the Dutch team won against Slovenia in the play-offs. The team can take revenge next Friday. The match against host country India follows two days later.