Czechia cruise to a 2-0 lead over Ukraine in Antalya

Petr Pala had described facing Ukraine in the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers as “one of the toughest draws we could have”, but the Czechia captain watched his side make light work of their opponents in Antalya, Turkiye on Friday.

Marketa Vondrousova saw off world No. 38 Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 before Barbora Krejcikova eased past Katarina Zavatska 6-4 6-3 to give Czechia a 2-0 advantage going into Saturday’s decisive day at the Megasaray Club Belek.

Krejcikova's victory marked her first singles triumph for her country in the Billie Jean King Cup.

“It’s extremely special,” said the world No. 12. “I’m very happy with the way I played, that I was able to convert the opportunities that I got. I’m very happy to win a match in Czech colours.”

The 2021 Roland Garros champion had lost both of her previous singles outings in the competition - falling to Belinda Bencic and Angie Kerber at the 2021 Finals - but was always the heavy favourite for a clay court clash against a player ranked 249 spots beneath her in Zavatska, and so it proved on the match court.

“She’s a top player and I felt it,” admitted Zavatska. “Her balls were heavy. The more we played, the better she played.

“I had a little lack of confidence finishing the points, finishing the games. That’s where I need to improve.”

Ukraine’s chances of getting something from day one always felt likely to rest on their No. 1 in the opening match, but Kostyuk also struggled to capitalise on her opportunities against 2019 Roland Garros runner-up and Olympic silver-medallist Vondrousova, whose best level is far beyond her current ranking of No. 82.

“I feel like it was way closer than the score shows,” lamented Kostyuk. “I felt like I had a good game, just really it was not our day today. These kind of days happen and we just move forward. These kind of matches are good for my future – it’s good for me to learn what I have to work on.

“I’m proud of the girls, in all the circumstance we’re in right now, we still go out there and we fight, and we try to show our best tennis.”

For Vondrousova, victory improved her record in Billie Jean King Cup singles matches to 9-1, and to 11-1 overall. She did so in front of a small but vocal crowd of travelling supporters which, she acknowledged, always gives her a boost.

“I feel for us it’s such a change than a normal tournament, where you don’t have that [support] that much,” she said. “I’m really enjoying this atmosphere every time I play. It’s very nice. You feel like you have the support from the team and the people. It’s great.”

The tie, being played on neutral ground in Turkiye due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, has prompted some special acts from the players involved, with Czech No. 1 Krejcikova choosing to donate her earnings from the tie to help victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the country in early February.

“I’d like to help the young tennis players that are [in those affected regions],” Krejcikova said. “They lost everything. I’m friends with Turkish tennis players from different tournaments, and they connected me to the Turkish federation. They’ve been really honoured, and happy, and they really thanked me a lot. They had some kind of project that they are planning to do [with the money].

“I’ve been really honoured that I can do it, that I can help somewhere and that I can make these little kids that are right now living in [tough conditions], that don’t have much, and that I can make their day a little bit better, that they are going to smile more. Who knows one day they might become tennis players as well.”

No doubt they'd do well to follow Krejcikova's lead. 

The Czechs will hope she can play a standout role again on Saturday when she takes on Kostyuk with an eye on securing the 11-time champions a return to the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals.