Francoise Abanda, ranked No. 353 in the world, upset Fiona Ferro 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to help Canada defeat defending champion France 2-1 on the first day of the Billie Jean King Cup at Prague, Czech Republic.
Abanda saved seven of 10 break points as she clawed back from a set down for the stunner. After France leveled its best-of-three match with Canada when Alize Cornet beat Rebecca Marino 6-4, 7-6 (5), the Canadians won in doubles to break the tie. Gabriela Dabrowski and Marino took down France’s Clara Burel and Cornet 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Canada was joined by Spain, Czech Republic and Belgium as Day 1 winners.
Spain outlasted Slovakia 2-1 when Sara Sorribes Tormo and Carla Suarez Navarro won 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 in doubles over Viktoria Kuzmova and Tereza Mihalikova. Sorribes Tormo had won her singles match against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, but Slovakia earned a point when Kuzmova beat Suarez Navarro 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The Czech Republic’s team also needed doubles to eke out a 2-1 win over Germany. Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic beat Andrea Petkovic 6-1, 6-3, and Angelique Kerber countered for Germany with a 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Barbora Krejcikova. The Czechs hung on when Katerina Siniakova and Lucie Hradecka beat Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier in doubles 6-4, 6-7 (2), 10-8.
Belgium opened strong by beating Belarus 2-1. Greet Minnen took down Iryna Shymanovich 6-2, 6-2 and Elise Mertens staved off Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 for two early points. Belarus managed one point by winning the doubles match, as Sasnovich and Vera Lapko bested Mertens and Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-3.
The U.S. team will play Slovakia on Tuesday and Spain on Wednesday in Group C action. The winners of the four three-team groups will advance to the semifinals.
–Field Level Media
