Fed Cup: a defeat that encourages
Austria loses 0-3 at the tournament in Tallinn at the start against Italy, but debutante Mira Antonitsch can keep up with the two-time WTA tournament winner Giorgi for more than a set and a half. The opponent on Thursday is Greece.
by press release
last edit: Feb 05, 2020, 08:53 pm
The Austrian women's national team started with a defeat in the Europe / Africa Zone 1 tournament in Tallinn. As expected from Captain Marion Maruska, Italy was too strong as a team. The game was decided after the singles - Mira Antonitsch lost 6: 4, 3: 6, 0: 6 in her first appearance for red-white red against Camila Giorgi, in the duel of numbers 1 Julia Grabher had to beat the strong Jasmine Paolini 3: 6, 1 : Give 6 beaten. In the final double, Melanie Klaffner and youngster Sinja Kraus were beaten 4: 6, 4: 6 by Gatto-Monticone / Martina Trevisan.
"I am extremely disappointed. Not just for me, but because I lost for the country," said Mira Antonitsch, who is ranked 638th in the world rankings by 538 places behind two-time WTA tournament winner Giorgi. Not to forget: the 28-year-old Italian was still number 26 in the world a year and a half ago. Antonitsch was able to handle Giorgi's fast, risky game well in the first set. The 21-year-old held up against it and showed that aggressiveness on the pitch that she missed a bit in the second set. The Lower Austrian could not use two chances of the rebreak to 4: 5. "I did the right thing in these situations, I can't blame myself for anything. You just have to accept Winner." The 0: 6 in the third set looks bad, but: Four games went over debut. "It was not a typical 0: 6," said the debutante, who trained with Günter Bresnik at the age of 9 to 15 and returned to his academy in May 2019.
Great debutante achievements
"The young debutants Mira Antonitsch and Sinja Kraus performed great in doubles," said Captain Marion Maruska. "At times, Julia Grabher was very good in the game, had great rallies. Unfortunately, the Italian was too strong throughout the match. And the doubles slept through the beginning, but fought back well after the 0: 3. The bottom line is that what I saw, courage. "
On Thursday (from 3 p.m. CET) Austria will play against the Greeks who came to Tallinn without Maria Sakkari (WTA-21). The opponents are Despina Papamichail (WTA-258) and Valentini Grammatikopoulou (WTA-301). So the chances of winning are better.
Matchday 1:
Italy 3-0 Austria
Camila Giorgi (WTA-100) - Mira Antonitsch (WTA-638) 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 0
Jasmine Paolini (WTA-94) - Julia Grabher (WTA-221) 6: 3, 6: 1
Giulia Gatto-Monticone / Martina Trevisan - Melanie Klaffner / Sinja Kraus 6: 4, 6: 4