Kazakhstan started their Billie Jean King Cup finals marketing campaign with victory over hosts Britain on Tuesday whereas seven-times champions Australia noticed off Slovakia within the opening tie.

Previously referred to as the Fed Cup, the occasion was renamed in honour of American 12-time main winner King and restructured right into a ‘World Cup of tennis’ format concluding with 12 nations competing over one week for the title.

ALSO READ: Sepp Blatter Says Awarding FIFA World Cup to Qatar was ‘a Mistake’

Yulia Putintseva and Briton Katie Boulter appeared evenly matched after they took one set apiece earlier than the Kazakh 27-year-old stepped up a gear and stormed right into a 4-0 lead within the decider earlier than sealing a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina then sealed the tie in 73 minutes by beating Harriet Dart, successful seven video games in a row at one level to win 6-1 6-4 and provides Kazakhstan an unassailable 2-0 lead.

“I feel she’s an unimaginable participant. She’s Wimbledon champion for a motive, and she or he introduced a really excessive stage from the beginning. I believed she performed a really clear match,” Dart informed reporters.

“I actually don’t assume I performed that dangerous. I believed that she form of took issues into her personal fingers. She’s positively one of many few gamers on the tour that may form of take the match out of your fingers.”

Britain have been dealt an enormous blow final month when former U.S. Open champion and their highest-ranked participant Emma Raducanu pulled out of the group due to a wrist harm.

Britain subsequent face Spain on Thursday.

AUSTRALIA WIN

Earlier, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic and Storm Sanders received their singles matches in straight units of their 2-1 win over Slovakia within the opening tie of Group B.

Sanders beat Viktoria Kuzmova 6-4 6-3 whereas Tomljanovic eased previous Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-1 6-2.

Tomljanovic has had an excellent season within the second half of the yr, capped by her quarter-final runs at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She has since reached a profession excessive rating of 33.

ALSO READ: UEFA Repeats Opposition to Super League in Meeting with ESL Backer A22 Sports

“If I’ve to place it to 1 factor, it’s simply the place my head’s at in my life. I feel that interprets to the court docket. I’m pleased, tennis is enjoyable once more,” she mentioned.

“Even once I’m dropping, I’m discovering pleasure, which is actually all it’s ever been and it’s speculated to be. I misplaced it slightly bit there for a yr or so. However it occurs, it’s okay.”

Slovakia did handle to get on the board when the doubles pairing of Kuzmova and Tereza Mihalikova beat Sanders and Ellen Perez 2-6 6-3 10-6.

Learn all of the Latest Sports News right here