Slovakia v Slovenia: Schmiedlova up first for hosts against Milic
11/04/2024 13:22
Experienced Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova will lead out her team when they face Slovenia in their Qualifier match in Bratislava on Friday
By Ed Pearson
Slovakian No.1 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova will face Slovenian teenager Ela Nala Milic in the opening match of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier in Bratislava.
Schmiedlova, who has never faced the world No.812 before, will go into the opening match-up as the clear favourite given her experience in the competition and the fact that she’s ranked 744 places higher than her opponent.
Slovakian captain Matej Liptak has put his faith in Viktoria Hruncakova in the second singles position despite Rebecca Sramkova holding a superior ranking to her team-mate.
Hruncakova will take on Veronika Erjavec in Friday’s second singles match after the late withdrawal of Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek and with Kaja Juvan missing from the tie.
Slovenia, who stunned everyone by reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals last November in Seville, will have to turn a few more heads if they are to book their place in this year’s showpiece event.
The reverse singles matches on Saturday pit the two No.1 players and the two No.2 players against one another. Should the doubles be required, Hruncakova has been chosen alongside Tereza Mihalikova to face Pia Lovric ana Nina Potocnik.
The winners of the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers will all book their place in November’s Finals; the losers will contest the Play-offs in the same month.
Slovakia v Slovenia
