Australia 0-2 Slovenia: Zidansek wins to make Finals history for ...
Slovenia have made history by defeating 2022 runners-up Australia and claiming their maiden victory at a Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge FInals.
Tamara Zidansek defeated Australia’s Daria Saville to fire Slovenia into an unassailable 2-0 lead and secure an opening-day victory at the 2023 Finals in Seville.
Postojna-born Zidansek overpowered Saville 6-1 6-4 to build on Kaja Juvan’s 6-4 6-1 win against Ajla Tomljanovic in the opening singles match of the tie.
Slovenian duo Zidansek, who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals in 2021, and Juvan are in prime Billie Jean King Cup form, with the former having won six of her last eight matches in the competition across singles and doubles.
Juvan, meanwhile, has won 10 of the last 11 Billie Jean King Cup matches she has contested – and 12 of the 18 in total during a national team career which began in 2017.
Australia retaliated by winning the doubles, with Kimberly Birrell and Storm Hunter joining forces to defeat Veronika Erjavec and debutant Ela Milic in what could yet prove an invaluable match-win.
Slovenia are the early leaders in Group B and do not play again until Friday when they take on Kazakhstan. Australia, meanwhile, face the Kazakhs on Thursday.
