Podoroska holds the key for Argentina

Argentina will play host to Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Play-offs at the Cordoba Lawn Tennis Club starting on Friday.

Nadia Podoroska will start the tie at 11:00 local time against Yulia Putintseva followed by Lourdes Carle, playing in her first singles match, against Kazakh No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who is making her debut in the competition.

On paper Kazakhstan is the favourite for this tie, taking into account their three players in the Top 100 (Rybakina No. 23, Putintseva No. 30 and Zarina Diyas No. 90) compared to one from Argentina (Podoroska No. 45).

But the hosts will be hoping that a slow clay court at a low altitude will push the tie in their favour and Argentina is certainly buoyed by the fact that they have the highest ranked player from their region in Podoroska.

Argentina captain Mercedes Paz explained that she chose Carle in singles because “she is very good, very motivated and showed her potential in the [recent] events in Buenos Aires and Cordoba.”

Podoroska, who shocked the tennis world last year when she advanced to the semi-finals of Roland Garros as a qualifier, will, in theory, be the key to all three points for Paz’s team.

“I like the draw,” said Podoroska. “To open the tie gives you certainty as to when you will play and helps you to prepare.”

Kazakhstan’s captain Yaroslava Shvedova said: “There are good players on both sides, but you have to bear in mind that there will be more emotion and more energy than usual.”

On Saturday the tie will resume at 10:30 local time with the reverse singles and the doubles.