Europe/Africa I: Denmark in contention for promotion after victory over Greece

Greece's world No. 6 Maria Sakkari was beaten by Denmark's world No. 87 Clara Tauson in a thrilling clash in Oeiras, Portugal.

 

Tauson won four of her seven break points to secure a 6-4 6-4 win, as she improved her singles record in this competition to an impressive 13-4.

 

The victory for Tauson backed up a win for teenage Danish star Johanne Christine Svendsen in the opening match of the tie, as she beat the vastly more experienced Valentini Grammatikopoulou 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours and 22 minutes. 

 

In the 1st to 3rd Play-Off tie between Austria and Serbia, it was one-way traffic as Tamira Paszek and Sinja Kraus set up a 3-0 Austrian triumph by winning their singles matches.

 

Two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Paszek was too strong for Serbia's Elena Milovanovic as she recorded a 6-4 6-3 win, with her comeback from illness and injuries continuing to gather momentum. This was an 11th singles win for Paszek in the Billie Jean King Cup.

 

Kraus beat Serbia's Mia Ristic 6-2 6-4, winning six of her nine break points in a match where service was broken on nine occasions.

 

Austria are now in a strong position at the top of Pool A ahead of their final match against the Netherlands.

 

In the 7th to 9th Play-Off section of the draw, Hungary recorded a 3-0 win against Sweden.

 

Norway were relegated to Europe/Africa Group II after falling 2-1 to Bulgaria.