Country Cups (Davis Cup, Fed/BJK Cup)

[Deuce]

In current Fed Cup play, Canada is the decided favourite over a Belgian team who have not got their best players...
Leylah beat Wickmayer decidedly in the opening match... and Rebecca Marino, who is playing in her home town of Vancouver, continued the positive momentum that Leylah laid down, getting off to a quick 3-0 lead over Bonaventure in the second match. But Bonaventure came back before Marino closed out the set 6-4.
Bonaventure continued the momentum she had begun in the 1st set to take the 2nd set 6-4, and she took the deciding set by the same score.

Back at it today with, of course, the reverse singles.

Czech Republic vs. Ukraine is an interesting one - it is being played in Turkey, as they offered hosting facilities to Ukraine, who obviously cannot play at home.
Yesterday, Vondrousova beat Kostyuk very easily, and Krejcikova beat Zavatska, also in straight sets.
Today, however, Kostyuk surprised Krejcikova with a win in 3 sets.

As an aside, Krejcikova is donating her Fed Cup money (players get paid to represent their country?!) to the Turkish Earthquake fund...
Krejcikova to Donate Cup Money to Turkey Earthquake Victims...

.

[JTContinental]

Coco and Caty reunion is in session, after Pegula secured the win for Team USA

[Deuce]

Leylah is currently in a battle with Ysaline Bonaventure...
This match began in a similar way as Leylah's match vs. Wickmayer yesterday - but in reverse... Bonaventure sped off to a 4-0 lead. Then Leylah finally held serve - but it took her about 15 minutes to do so. She gathered herself after that, but still lost the set 4-6. Then she held tough to win the 2nd set 7-5.
Leylah has an early break in the 3rd - 2-0.
It has not been a high quality match from either player - but it's close, at least.

We don't know yet who'll be playing in the second singles - maybe Wickmayer, maybe Minnen for Belgium... and maybe Marino, maybe even Sebov for Canada. All we know is that it will be an important match - either to win it or to tie it and allow the doubles to decide things.

The Czech Republic beat Ukraine, with Kostyuk's win over Krejcikova being the only Ukrainian win...
France beat Britain 3-1...
Italy beat Slovakia 3-2...
Spain beat Mexico 3-1...
Germany beat Brazil 3-1...
Kazakhstan beat Poland 3-1...
USA beat Austria 4-0...
and Slovenia and Romania are tied 2-2.

[JazzNU]

I noticed a Karatantcheva playing for Hungary. I think it's Sesil's little sister, but there's not a lot of information on her because her ranking is so low. But her first name is Lia and Sesil's old bio on the WTA says she has a sister named Elia, so thinking this is her.

[Deuce]

Leylah came back to win the 3rd set convincingly, if not easily, 6-2.
So Canada is up 2-1 now.

Interestingly, Katherine Sebov is playing the last singles for Canada. This is her first appearance in Fed Cup. She's playing Greet Minnen, who is, I believe, in only her second Fed Cup appearance.
I imagine Sebov will be nervous - first Fed Cup play, and in front of the home crowd (and she just got broken in the first game of the match).

I've got to wonder how this is affecting Rebecca Marino, who is Canada's #2 player here (Andreescu is injured), and who is in her home town of Vancouver. But Marino really faded last night after winning the 1st set - so, from that perspective, it's an understandable decision to go with Sebov.
I think Canada is also fairly confident in the doubles - though I, personally, don't see that they are a significant favourite there - and that, too, would factor into the decision to go with Sebov in this match.

[Deuce]

Sebov did well... came back from a 1st set loss to win the 2nd, and went a break ahead in the 3rd before giving the break back and then being broken late by the more experienced Minnen.
Still, an encouraging Fed Cup baptism for Sebov.

Onto the doubles, which starts in a few minutes, tied at 2-2. Minnen and Flipkens vs. Dabrowski and Leylah. I'd say it's pretty close to a toss-up...
Dabrowski is a strong doubles player, and Leylah has had some recent doubles success with Taylor Townsend - but Gaby and Leylah have not played together as a team very often (only in Fed Cup, basically).
Both Flipkens and Minnen are solid doubles players, and Flipkens will have the added motivation of this very likely being her final Fed Cup (I remember her from Juniors, and, amazingly to me, she's now 37 years old and on the verge of retiring from tennis). It wouldn't be surprising to see her become the Fed Cup captain for Belgium shortly after she retires.
I'd give a slight edge to Canada in this match, though mostly because of the home country advantage.

[Deuce]

Well, in the end, it wasn't close - Canada easily won the doubles, 1 and 2.
Leylah's doubles instincts have improved significantly (if one can actually improve instincts).

Bravo.
Onto the finals now...

[meganfernandez]

Is Hopman Cup on TV? Can't find it on Tennis Channel. This is all I found:

Flow - Caribbean Islands
Supersport - Sub-Saharan Africa
SRG - Switzerland, Leichenstein
TV2 - Denmark (maybe US, too?)
TVE - Spain
Claro - Central and South America
L'Equipe - France and French Overseas Territiories

[ti-amie]

[nelslus]

Is Hopman Cup on TV? Can't find it on Tennis Channel. This is all I found:

Flow - Caribbean Islands
Supersport - Sub-Saharan Africa
SRG - Switzerland, Leichenstein
TV2 - Denmark (maybe US, too?)
TVE - Spain
Claro - Central and South America
L'Equipe - France and French Overseas Territiories

Of course, Tennis Channel Plus is showing Hopman Cup matches. And, I can confirm that Tennis Channel at least showed the match point where Rune lost today. So, maybe regular Tennis Channel will show some Hopman Cup, at least in bits and pieces, in the middle of all the other tournaments going on?

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

Reem Abulleil
@ReemAbulleil@sportsbots.xyz
Canada get the job done and defeat hosts Italy!

Galarneau and Diallo each get their first-ever Davis Cup match-wins.

Alexis Galarneau (#200) bt. Lorenzo Sonego (#38) 7-6(8), 6-4

Gabriel Diallo (#158) bt. Lorenzo Musetti (#18) 7-5, 6-4

[ponchi101]

Nobody is sounding the alarm because they have not made much on tour.
But, especially Musetti, both Lorenzo's are not playing well at all.

[skatingfan]

Reem Abulleil
@ReemAbulleil@sportsbots.xyz
Canada get the job done and defeat hosts Italy!

Galarneau and Diallo each get their first-ever Davis Cup match-wins.

Alexis Galarneau (#200) bt. Lorenzo Sonego (#38) 7-6(8), 6-4

Gabriel Diallo (#158) bt. Lorenzo Musetti (#18) 7-5, 6-4

That shouldn't have happened.

[nelslus]

With Krajicek, Rajeev has won two very tough doubles match, days after winning the freakin' US Open.

So....singles players on the US Open Davis Cup team. Next time you want to put in an opinion on who should play doubles, like last year? STFU.