(Seville) The players of the French tennis team were beaten by Italy 2 to 1, only managing to win the doubles match, as soon as they entered the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup, Wednesday in Seville.
The match was lost in the first two singles. Caroline Garcia (20e world) collapsed at the end of the match against the eye-catching Jasmine Paolini (30e) 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4. She broke down in the worst moments, like in the tie break of the first set (four set points lost before letting the set slip away) or in the last set, during which she led 4-2 before losing the last four games of the set. match.
In the first match of the day, Alizé Cornet (118e world), preferred by captain Julien Benneteau to novice Varvara Gracheva (44e), naturalized in May, also lost in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-2) against Martina Trevisan (43e).
At first rather dominant against the Italian player, very borrowed and who had to wait until the 6the game of the second round to finally win her faceoff for the first time, Cornet gradually gave up in the middle of the second round, even seeming to be physically affected.
Unable in turn to win her service game in the second set, the Frenchwoman saw the Italian regain confidence and accuracy, and finally win in three sets.
In the doubles, which concluded the day, the pair Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic battled until the super tiebreaker to overcome Martina Trevisan and Elisabetta Cocciaretto (5-7, 6-2, 10-6) .
This doubles point could possibly weigh depending on the final results of group D, completed by the German team, the Blue’s next opponent on Friday from 10 a.m. The French, already with their backs against the wall if they want to reach the semi-finals of the competition, will face Tatjana Maria (57e) and the very recent WTA Masters doubles winner Laura Siegemund.
In the evening, in Group C, Canada beat Spain by winning the first two singles. Marina Stakušić (258e world) initially largely dominated Rebeka Masarova (65e) 6-3, 6-1. Next, Leylah Fernandez (35e) had to work hard to overcome Sara Sorribes (50e) after two decisive games 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (9-7).
To be invited to the last square, you must finish at the top of your group. The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, the final on Sunday. Each match consists of two singles followed by a doubles.
The 2022 edition was won by Switzerland, victorious in the final over Australia.