Fed Cup: Everything possible for Austria's women - today it's against Estonia
After the 2-1 win against Greece on Thursday, a lot is possible for the Austrian Fed Cup team - up and down.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 07, 2020, 09:53 am
Julia Grabher had to fend off three match balls before she won 1-6, 6-4 and 7-5 against Despina Papamichail and equalized 1-1. Melanie Klaffner / Sinja Kraus then took the second point to victory over Greece - 7: 5, 7: 6 (2), in both sets the Austrians had to destroy the Greek set balls.
Debutante Kraus lost the first match to Valentini Grammatikopoulou (4: 6, 4: 6); it was used because Mira Antonitsch was ill.
"It was an incredibly strong team effort, " said Tamchefin Marion Maruska after the win . "I'm really proud of the girls."
Above all, Grabher's victory was of course vital for survival. "Julia Grabher was very, very nervous. Going to the pitch at 0-1 and having to win is anything but easy," said Maruska. "At 0: 5, I told her: Just play your game. And she did it."
Maruska also impressed Klaffner and Kraus' performance in doubles. "The two played great, complemented each other well, were great at times," said the former number 50 of the tennis world. "They were constantly motivating and pushing each other, it was a pleasure to watch them."
Anett Kontaveit is waiting
After the defeat against Italy on Wednesday , Austria also has a win on the plus side. On Friday it will be against Estonia - who thanks to world cashier Anett Kontaveit, currently number 22 in the WTA ranking, are the clear favorite. Should the ÖTV team win, it would probably be second in the group against Ukraine or Croatia on Saturday - for the qualification for the world group final tournament in Budapest (if Greece does not win against Italy).
If the Estonians won 2-1, the group would probably be relegated to third place (should Greece lose 0-3 against Italy). A 3-0 win in Estonia would go against the bottom of Pool A against relegation to Zone II on Saturday.