Billie Jean King Cup
Tennis women are behind after Lys defeat against Italy
Eva Lys had no chance against the Italian Martina Trevisan. photo
© Manu Fernandez/AP/dpa
First balanced, then clear: Eva Lys cannot score for the German tennis women in the final round of the Billie Jean King Cup. Now only two wins will help.
The German tennis women are at the finals of the Billie Jean King Cups come under pressure. At the start of the group game against Italy, Eva Lys had to admit defeat to the favorite Italian Martina Trevisan 6:7 (6:8), 1:6 in Seville.
Only two victories in the following singles by Anna-Lena Friedsam and in the doubles can prevent the quick exit from the preliminary round. Because they won against France the day before, the Italians would move into the semi-finals of the team competition as group winners if they were to win again.
Tatjana Maria and Laura Siegemund only in doubles
Lys started strong. The Hamburger led against Trevisan 5:3 and had a set point in the tiebreak, but the first round still went to the Italian after a hard-fought 78 minutes. In the world rankings, the 21-year-old from Hamburg is 130th, well behind the left-hander (43rd), but she initially played bravely and had her chances.
Although she had kept the first set completely open, the second round clearly developed in favor of the more consistent Trevisan. At 1:4, Lys took a medical time-out and left the pitch. She came back with a bandaged thigh, but was no longer able to endanger the Italian.
Team boss Rainer Schüttler did without the experienced Tatjana Maria and Laura Siegemund in the individual. Siegemund traveled late from Mexico to Seville because of her doubles title win at the WTA Finals and is scheduled to play the doubles against Italy with Maria. On Friday (10 a.m. / Tennis Channel) the selection of the German Tennis Federation will face France.