The German tennis players have to tremble at the Billie Jean King Cup for relegation. In the play-off duel with hosts Croatia, Jule Niemeier missed the groundbreaking 2-0 after debutante Eva Lys had surprisingly given the DTB team the lead with a masterly performance.
The German tennis women can still hope to remain in the world group of the Billie Jean King Cup, but missed a perfect starting position in Croatia after the first day. After the only 20-year-old Eva Lys put Germany ahead with a very strong performance in 6: 1, 6: 4 against Croatian number one Petra Martic, the German top player Jule Niemeier failed in her singles debut for Germany. The 23-year-old from Dortmund was beaten by the 16-year-old Petra Marcinko 3: 6, 2: 6 and showed a disappointing performance.
After the first day it is 1:1 in Rijeka. On Saturday (2 p.m. / Tennis Channel) Niemeier first meets Martic, then Lys and Marcinko play against each other. If no decision has been made after that, a doubles match is still on the agenda. Germany has to do without the pregnant Angelique Kerber and the retired Andrea Petkovic. Lys was clearly the better player for a long time on her first appearance in the competition and with the victory justified the trust that team boss Rainer Schüttler had placed in her for this important duel. “Getting the first point for Germany is an incredible feeling, I’ve never felt anything like it on the pitch before,” said Lys.
The number 123 in the world, who was born in Kyiv, played self-confidently, aggressively and at the same time consistently. With two breaks she dominated the first set. Lys immediately took the lead in the second half as well and played unimpressed by the pressure and the music, which was supposed to support Martic, eleven years his senior. Only at 5: 1 in the second round did Lys have problems, but was rewarded with the success of his own serve. “I’m incredibly happy. I have nothing to complain about today,” said the North German: “I was pretty nervous at the end of the second set.” Schüttler was proud of his protégé. “Eva played almost perfectly from start to finish,” said the ex-professional.
Niemeier, on the other hand, failed because of her own nerves from the start. The Wimbledon quarter-finalist was quickly trailing 3-0 and was never able to develop her powerful game. She also conceded a quick break in the second set and in the end had no chance against the carefree Marcinko. “Jule didn’t serve as well today and didn’t score as many free points as usual,” analyzed Schüttler. “I knew that she was a very, very good player,” said Niemeier himself: “The first set was tight, and she was lucky there too. But in the second set it was too easy for me. But I can’t blame myself , not having tried everything.”
