Billie Jean King Cup: Kerber loses against Rybakina, Germany misses the final round
Angelique Kerber lost 6: 4, 3: 6 and 5: 7 to Elena Rybakina at the Billie Jean King Cup in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan leads 3-0 and has qualified for their final round, Germany has to play against relegation from the world group in autumn.
by SID
last edit: Apr 16, 2022, 12:25 pm
Relegation battle instead of title chance: After a defeat in Kazakhstan, the German tennis team led by Angelique Kerber has to worry about staying up in the group of top teams in the Billie Jean King Cup. The three-time Grand Slam winner from Kiel already served to win the match in the top singles on Saturday, but lost to Elena Rybakina 6: 4, 3: 6, 5: 7 - the game in Nur-Sultan was decided with a score of 0: 3 .
On Good Friday, Kerber (34) failed in her first clay court match of the season against Julia Putintseva (6: 3, 3: 6, 2: 6). Laura Siegemund (Metzingen/34) had no chance against Rybakina (0:6, 1:6). While Kazakhstan travels to the final of the top twelve teams (November 8th to 13th), the German team of captain Rainer Schüttler goes to the play-offs (November 11th/12th).
Title award without Germany
Kerber awarded against the world number 19. Rybakina took a 5-3 lead in the deciding set. After 2:05 hours she conceded another defeat in a season that has been messed up for her so far. In the preparation she was slowed down by Corona, in spring she only managed to win two victories in Indian Wells. It will continue for her next week at the home tournament in Stuttgart.
Germany has twice won the women's team competition, formerly known as the Fed Cup (1987 and 1992). The team was last in the final eight years ago (1:3 in the Czech Republic). In 2021 a final tournament was held for the first time. In Prague, Kerber and Co. were eliminated in the group phase. This year the decision about the title will take place without German participation.