Nur-Sultan (dpa) – The German tennis women clearly missed the finals in the Billie Jean King Cup and are now playing against relegation.
Angelique Kerber also lost her second individual in the qualifying game in Kazakhstan with the 6: 4, 3: 6, 5: 7 against Jelena Rybakina and could not turn the tide. After three games, the selection of the German Tennis Association in Nur-Sultan was already uncatchable at 0:3. For this reason, the fourth singles was canceled and the final doubles with Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier was planned for 12.45 p.m.
This means that the team of Captain Rainer Schüttler must on 11./12. prevent relegation in November. Most recently, in 2013, Kerber & Co. did not play in the top group of the most important women’s team competition, which was then called the Fed Cup.
As in the 6: 3, 3: 6, 2: 6 against Julia Putinzewa the day before, Kerber also showed in the first set against the world number 19. Rybakina a focused performance. On the sand surface, which the 34-year-old didn’t like as much, her Kazakh opponent came into play better and better and confidently secured the second set.
In the third round, Kerber debated with the referee at times after a tight decision, a little later the three-time Grand Slam winner conceded the break to 2: 3 with a double fault. Rybakina didn’t act flawlessly either, Kerber took a 5-3 lead. However, the best German tennis player missed this great opportunity and had to admit defeat after 2:05 hours.
In addition to Kerber, Laura Siegemund also lost her opening singles on the first day and had no chance in the 0: 6, 1: 6 against Rybakina.