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Rebecca Peterson helped propel Sweden to a commanding 3-0 victory over Norway on Monday, boosting her nation’s hopes of reaching November’s Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-offs
The World No 74 was the highest-ranked singles player on show during Day 1 at the Megasaray Tennis Academy in Antalya, Türkiye, where Europe/Africa Group I is taking place this week.
The 27-year-old won the crucial 2nd rubber of her nation’s showdown with Norway, defeating Malene Helgo, 6-4 6-4, before Jacqueline Cabaj Awad & Kajsa Rinaldo Persson joined forces in the doubles to power Sweden to a 3-0 win.
While the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers later in the week will determine which nations advance to the Finals and have a chance of being crowned world champion in November, there is a different emphasis in Antalya.
The aim of nations competing at Europe/Africa Group I level is to secure promotion to November’s Play-offs, where victory would see them advance to the Qualifiers in April 2024.
A total of 11 nations – Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Hungary, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Sweden and Turkey – are facing off in Europe/Africa Group I, split into two pools following a round robin format, with the winners of each promoted directly to the Play-offs, and the second-placed teams in each facing each other for the 3rd promotion spot.
There will also be positional play-offs for teams finishing 3rd to 5th in each pool to determine final placings and, indeed, which 2 nations are relegated to Europe/Africa Group II.
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While Sweden are the early pacesetters in Pool B, Netherlands also made a rip-roaring start to proceedings courtesy of a 3-0 thrashing of Latvia, while hosts Türkiye, Denmark and Serbia also posted wins.
Netherlands then maintained their push for BJK Cup promotion with victory over hosts Türkiye as they posted their second successive Europe/Africa Group I win of the week.
With the singles split following triumphs for Suzan Lamens and then Türkiye’s Zeynep Sonmez, the show-down was decided by doubles with Lamens & Bibiane Schoofs prevailing in straight sets against Berfu Cengiz & Ipek Oz.
Suzan Lamens helped the Netherlands to the top of Pool B in Turkey
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The Netherlands are now the only nation in Pool A at the Europe/Africa Group I event, which is being held at the Megasaray Tennis Academy in Antalya, to boast a 100 per cent record, although Hungary have yet to play their 2nd tie.
Netherlands currently top Pool A following back-to-back victories, with Hungary second following their 3-0 thrashing of Egypt.
Dalma Galfi and Anna Bondar both triumphed in singles before Reka Luca Jani & Amarissa Kiara Toth impressed in doubles.
In Pool B, meanwhile, Sweden and Serbia both maintained their own perfect records with victory over Denmark and Norway respectively, suggesting there is much to play for over the coming days.
Moyuka Uchijima helped Japan get off the mark in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Gokhan Taner/billiejeankingcup.com
Elsewhere, in Asia/Oceania Group I, Japan’s campaign got up and running following a powerful victory over Korea, Rep. in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Semi-finalists in 1996, Japan are now competing in Asia/Oceania Group I for the second successive season, having conquered all before them at this stage of the tournament 12 months, only to slip to a Play-offs defeat against Ukraine in November.
While the Qualifiers were tantalisingly within reach only 5 months ago, Japan are now bidding to re-take their place in the Play-offs, although their 3-0 thrashing of Korea, Rep. suggests they are very much ready for the fight.
Singles victories for Mai Hontama and Moyuka Uchijima were followed by a doubles joy for Shuko Aoyama & Eri Hozumi as Japan signalled their intentions from the off.
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China, PR were the other nation to progress to the Play-offs from Asia/Oceania Group I in 2022, although they too were defeated with the Qualifiers in sight, with Slovenia their conquerors.
Like Japan, however, China PR have made a positive start to their quest to reach the Play-offs, posting a 3-0 success over hosts Uzbekistan, when Xinyu Jiang and Wushuang Zheng triumphed in the singles before Jiang & Zhaoxuan Yang prevailed in doubles.
India, meanwhile, dispatched Thailand 2-1.
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