GBR 1-2 SVK: ‘Win or lose in the final, my girls are legends now’
19/11/2024 13:18
Dominant showing from Hruncakova and Mihalikova books ticket to final and match-up with Italy
By Ross McLean
Slovakia will contest their first Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge final in more than 20 years after defeating Great Britain in a gripping semi-final showdown in Malaga.
Dynamic duo Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova were the Slovakian heroines as they joined forces in a deciding doubles to dispatch Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls 6-2 6-2.
The tie went the distance after the irrepressible Rebecca Sramkova, who has been majestic at times this week, hauled Slovakia level following a topsy-turvy 2-6 6-4 6-4 victory over world No. 24 Katie Boulter.
A dominant Emma Raducanu has earlier fired Great Britain into the lead, defeating Hruncakova 6-4 6-4 and ending the Slovak’s six-match winning streak in the competition.
At that stage, Great Britain appeared on the cusp of their first Billie Jean King Cup final since 1981 when players including Sue Barker, Jo Durie and Virginia Wade ruled in national team colours.
However, Sramkova, Hruncakova and Mihalikova had other ideas and it was Slovakia who advanced to Wednesday’s final where Italy, who defeated Poland on Monday in the first semi-final, await.
“This is a special moment for our country, for our players and for tennis in Slovakia,” said captain Matej Liptak, who was in charge when Slovakia lost in agonising fashion to Russia during their last semi-final appearance in 2013. “It’s so many years since we won it – and we’ve only won it once.
“But today it’s real and we are just one step from the biggest victory this team has had. We will try to enjoy it tomorrow but, for now, we are unbelievably happy. The team is unbelievably happy, and we are enjoying the moment.
“All my girls will be legends now. Even if they don’t finish it tomorrow, this is a really special moment for them and for our country. Everyone will know who was in this team. But we will try to go one more match.”
Slovakia reached their only previous Billie Jean King Cup final in 2002 when they shocked tennis by being crowned world champions after defeating Spain 3-1 in a final held in Gran Canaria.
Daniela Hantuchova was the star of the show back then and the modern-day vintage now have the chance to follow in the footsteps of those who achieved something that remains an enormous source of national pride.
Memories of that victory are everywhere. Janette Husarova was a member of the 2002 Slovakia team and defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the final to seal the title.
Husarova is now a coach within the Slovakian set-up while Miloslav Mecir, who won Olympic men's singles gold in 1988, is on site in Malaga supporting the team.
“Janette was a member of the team in 2002, and she has told us all about it,” said Sramkova, who is likely to face world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini in the second singles match of the final. She has four wins from six matches against Paolini.
“We have nothing to lose, so we are just going to enjoy it to our fullest.”
Just as they did against the United States on Thursday, Hruncakova and Mihalikova held their nerve to guide Slovakia home, overpowering a doubles pairing in Watson and Nicholls that were untested at these Finals.
“After our first singles, we were a little further away from the final, but then Rebecca gave us a chance,” Mihalikova said.
After the first singles, I was thinking about the emotions if we won and how I would feel if we made it to the finals. It came true and I’m so happy.”
In a strange quirk of fate, Nicholls and Mihalikova are regular doubles partners on the WTA Tour but today they were on opposite sides of the net. On this occasion, Mihalikova had the final word.
While Hruncakova and Mihalikova sealed victory, credit must go to Sramkova who rekindled Slovakia’s hopes and, in the process, recorded her third win of the week.
Within that time the 28-year-old posted two triumphs against Top 30 opposition – the USA's Danielle Collins and now Boulter – her first Billie Jean King Cup triumphs since 2017.
Slovakia have stressed all week that they are a small tennis-playing nation and have used that perceived inferiority as motivation. However, this was their third successive win against a Grand Slam-hosting nation.
They may be small, but Slovakia are making a big impression here in Malaga.
