2023 BJK Finals: Spotlight on Slovenia
01/10/2023 18:15
Slovenia pulled off an incredible comeback to reach the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, coming back from 0-2 down to defeat Romania in Koper. Can they create more magic in Seville?
By Kevin Palmer
SLOVENIA
Current ranking: 18
First appearances in BJK Cup: 1992
Years played: 30
BJK Cup record: 112 (64 wins, 48 losses)
Most ties played: Tina Krizan (46)
Best result: Qualifying for the Billie Jean King Cup finals this year
RECORD
History was made in Koper last April as the hosts came from 2-0 down in their tie with Romania to pull off a remarkable win and create a moment of history for Slovenian tennis.
Tamara Zidansek's win was backed up by a singles win for Kaja Juvan to draw the tie level, before Juvan and Zidansek combined to secure victory in a tense doubles decider.
When Romania's Ana Bogdan served for the match against Zidansek on the second day of the tie, the final outcome a few hours later was hard to envisage, yet Slovenia found a way to secure their greatest moment in this competition.
It sealed Slovenia's passage to a first Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals, with their previous best performance coming back in 2003, when they reached the World Group quarter-finals.
MEET THE CAPTAIN - Andrej Krasevec
A former professional player, Krasevec reached a career-high of No.598 on the ATP list in August 1998.
Like many who witnessed his side's remarkable comeback against Romania in the Qualifiers in April, he was struggling to find the words to sum up his emotions after the match.
"It's hard to say [how I'm feeling]. Ask again in an hour!" he joked after the 3-2 triumph. "Unbelievable. It's amazing, from 0-2 down to 3-2. And the crowd was today really unbelievable."
Now he is looking forward to the Finals in Seville as he added: "I didn't have any expectations for the draw. I think all teams are really competitive. There should be some good matches. I'm looking forward to it. Let's go Slovenia!"
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAY - Kaja Juvan
The Qualifier win against Romania that secured Slovenia's played in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals meant even more to an emotional Kaja Juvan, as it came as she was mourning the death of her father.
"It's been a really weird period, a really hard period and actually when we won against China [in the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs in November], those were the two last matches that my dad watched me play," she reflected.
"So I think those two matches felt like the most important matches of my life. And it's been very challenging since then, to really find the same spirit and motivation.
"The weekend [against Romania] actually a little bit reminded me of the same way that I was fighting, like the last time we played [against China in November]. And I think it means even more to me than maybe it normally would.
"That's why I was so emotional, also with my mum, with my brother. I think always after the after the hard period, you always appreciate the nice moments even more."
HEAD TO HEADS
Slovenia will be competing against Australia and Khazakstan for the first time at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville.
FORM
Tamara Zidansek won a WTA event in Italy in September and backed that up in her next event by reaching the semi-finals of a WTA250 event in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Kaja Juvan reached the last-32 at the US Open in September, where her run was halted by Poland's Iga Swiatek.
She also showed some good form on grass last summer, coming through qualifying and making it through to the last-64 at Wimbledon.
She lost at the Australian Open against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who is set to be an opponent for Slovenia at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville.
