The German tennis players are in the qualification of the Billie Jean King Cup after the opening defeat against the Netherlands.
The team of captain Rainer Schüttler lost 0: 3 in the duel with the host and now needs a little miracle to get on to the final round.
First, Jule Niemeier lost her single after a very weak performance against the world ranking-265. Eva Vedder in the Hague 3: 6, 1: 6. Afterwards, Tatjana Maria had to give up in a much better and competitive match Suzan Lamens 6: 3, 3: 6, 5: 7. And even in doubles, Laura Siegemund and Anna-Lena did not create a match win at 6: 7 (5: 7), 5: 7 against Lamens and Demi Schuurs.
“The situation is challenging,” stated a source close to the team. “We need a flawless performance against Great Britain to even have a chance. The players are aware of the gravity of the situation.”
Schüttler had dispensed with a nomination of Eva Lys for the game against the Netherlands, the German number one fired with a thick scarf around the neck.
In order to have the chance to qualify for the final round in mid -September in the Chinese in Shenzhen, the German team must now win 3-0 against the favorite Great Britain on Friday. This also requires a suitable victory of the British in the duel with the Netherlands on Saturday.
If the selection of the German tennis federal government misses the qualification for the finals, the playoffs will be against relegation in November.
At the start, Niemeier started nervously, lost her first service game and conceded a total of four breaks in the opening set. The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist dictated the pace of the rallies, but made too many slight mistakes. In the next round nothing went together.
The 25 -year -old Dortmundin at times discussed with the referee and had to give up after 83 minutes. The 37 -year -old Maria was on the pitch significantly longer. In the decisive sentence of the balanced match, she was already 4: 5 behind with a break, but fought back again. Afterwards, however, Maria immediately released her serve, and one last rearing was in vain.