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Elena Rybakina’s win over Kimberly Birrell cemented an unassailable 2-0 lead for Kazakhstan over Australia, earlier than Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez tightened scores with a doubles win at Pat Rafter Enviornment on Thursday.
Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 10 April 2025 | Matt Trollope
Elena Rybakina overcame Kimberly Birrell in a hard-fought match at Pat Rafter Enviornment on Thursday to finish victory for Kazakhstan over Australia.
From 3-1 down within the first set, and 5-1 down within the second, Rybakina elevated her degree at each junctures to earn a 6-3 7-6(4) win, extending Kazakhstan’s result in 2-0 over the hosts.
OFFICIAL PROGRAM: Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers (AUS-COL-KAZ)
Earlier within the day, Yulia Putintseva’s type and expertise shone via as she defeated gallant debutant Maya Joint within the first singles rubber.
Puntintseva, 12 years older than the teenaged Joint, gained 6-2 6-1 to provide her nation a 1-0 lead.
Doubles delight
Australia skilled some pleasure when Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez mixed to win the doubles rubber late within the afternoon.
The Aussie lefties outplayed Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva 6-3 6-4 in what was Hunter’s first aggressive BJK Cup outing at residence – and first of any variety since sustaining a severe harm on the identical venue final 12 months.
“It was superb … It’s been a very long time coming, it’s been 11 years since I’ve truly been in a position to play a [home] match; received shut final 12 months [but] didn’t fairly occur,” Hunter stated.
“So I used to be actually comfortable to get that right this moment, as a result of that was one thing I’ve dreamed of since I used to be a child. And to play with a childhood good friend as effectively, in Ellen, and to share that second collectively was actually particular.
“I’m actually proud of how we performed and the way we received alongside, and the way we simply performed very well – we had been very clear and optimistic on the courtroom, and actually good power, so actually proud of how our match went right this moment.”
Birrell extends Rybakina
Enjoying on residence soil, Queensland’s Birrell threatened to dent Rybakina’s near-flawless Billie Jean King Cup document, buying and selling blows with the highly effective 25-year-old earlier than Rybakina’s weapons clicked into gear.
Behind her large serve and relentlessly heavy groundstrokes, and bolstered by the roof over Pat Rafter Enviornment, Rybakina reeled Birrell in to take her competitors singles document to 8-1.
“She performed very well, I believe the entire match,” Rybakina stated of the Aussie.
“After all my serve within the second set dropped a bit and I began to lose and after I lastly discovered that power and timing on the serve.
“[There were] some good rallies from each of us and in some vital moments I performed slightly bit higher being down and located myself on the tiebreak and I felt slightly bit higher.”
Birrell has confronted prime gamers within the groups occasion in years prior – resembling Dominika Cibulkova in 2016 and Madison Keys in 2019 – however this was the closest she’d pushed a participant of this calibre.
It was one other signal that the world No.61 was trending in the correct course in what has to date been a superb season.
“Although I’m disillusioned now, I believe I can positively take some confidence from this match and taking part in one other tight match in opposition to one of many women who’ve cemented themselves within the prime 10,” Birrell stated.
“So yeah I’m positively believing in the way in which that I’m taking part in, and I’m trying ahead to seeing what I can do that 12 months.”
Putintseva fires early
The primary match was nearer than the scoreline recommended, particularly within the second set, the place Joint took 4 video games to deuce, earned two break factors, and saved 5 of her personal.
However she was unable to win any of these deuce video games – 5 in complete throughout the match – as Putintseva’s courtroom craft, composure and talent to neutralise Joint’s energy proved pivotal.
“It was positively a very good recreation for me and I like taking part in in Brisbane. I believe right this moment simply a kind of days when every little thing was working and yeah, I’m very comfortable that it turned out being right here,” stated Putintseva, who was impressed by Joint’s debut efficiency.
“I believe it was very robust. Each recreation was a problem and I’m very comfortable that I stored my focus. Ultimately, I imply, the rating was straightforward [but] the sport was by no means straightforward, at all times a stress.
“She’s so younger. I’d say she by no means quit, which is an effective level. Like at this age, typically when one thing is just not going good, you’re like, ‘let your emotion go’. [But] she was centered.
“She was combating each level so it’s nice to see from the younger age that she’s very mature. Plus I believe she has a very good baseline recreation for her age like, it’s very spectacular.”
Putintseva’s win improves her Billie Jean King Cup singles document to a powerful 21-11.
Classes on debut
Joint, in the meantime, felt each pleasure and nerves when instructed yesterday she had been chosen because the No.2 singles participant.
Regardless of the loss she might see positives when requested to explain her first expertise of worldwide consultant play.
“She pressured me to play exterior of myself, I’d say. [From] center of the second set, I might begin feeling that I used to be making an attempt to go for photographs that weren’t there… so yeah, she performed nice,” Joint instructed tennis.com.au.
“I used to be so comfortable that Sam [Stosur] trusted me sufficient to place me out on the courtroom and to play, after which I used to be additionally actually nervous as a result of I wished to do effectively, however primarily excited and simply actually comfortable that each one my laborious work had paid off.
“I used to be fairly nervous strolling out onto the courtroom and beginning the match, however I began fairly effectively, so I settled fairly rapidly.
“It’s only a very totally different ambiance with the drums and everybody’s so loud and everybody’s so into it. It’s a extremely particular occasion that solely occurs as soon as, twice a 12 months, so I’m actually comfortable that I used to be in a position to be part of it.”
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