Nur-Sultan – Angelique Kerber opens the match of the German women’s tennis players in the Billie Jean King Cup in Kazakhstan against Julia Putintseva.
This was the result of the draw for the first day of qualifying on Friday (9.00 am/CEST) in Nur-Sultan. Team captain Rainer Schüttler nominated the experienced Laura Siegemund as the second German singles player, the 34-year-old will face world number 19 Yelena Rybakina.
“I think it’s a knife-edge weekend, fifty-fifty, it’s extremely even,” Schüttler said of the match against the Kazakh women. “It depends on who has the better day.” The winner will qualify for the finals of the competition, formerly called the Fed Cup, from 8 to 13 November. The loser plays against relegation.
The Kazakh women opted to play on the clay surface, which Kerber is less fond of. “I feel good, we’ve been training well,” said the 34-year-old. “The first match on a new surface is always a bit difficult. We’re all looking forward, it’s not going to be an easy match.”
After surviving knee surgery, Siegemund feels “ready” for the task against the strong Rybakina. “She is a very good player,” said the German number two. “If I can get my game going, I expect something.” Andrea Petkovic had to cancel due to injury, the German team still includes Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier. On Saturday, Nur-Sultan will play two more singles and possibly the deciding doubles match.
