The first day of 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier action kicked off with seeded teams the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Spain all taking healthy 2-0 leads over their opponents.
Five players to watch in Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier action
CZE lead UKR 2-0
Barbora Krejcikova and Marketa Vondrousova both delivered straight-sets victories to get the No.2-seeded Czechs off to a perfect start on clay in Antalya, Türkiye, where the tie is being held due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Vondrousova, the 2019 Roland Garros finalist, defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1 in 1 hour and 22 minutes, and 2021 Roland Garros champion Krejcikova followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Katarina Zavatska.
Barbora Krejcikova makes it 2 from 2 for Czech Republic 💪 against Ukraine#BJKCup | @jsmeceskytenis | @BKrejcikova pic.twitter.com/tVbAbsXMlX
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 14, 2023
Krejcikova also announced that she will donate all her Billie Jean King Cup funds to Türkiye, which is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in February.
"Both Ukraine and Türkiye are going through very difficult times," she wrote on social media. "Much like I am supporting the people of Ukraine, I would like to lend a hand to Turks as well.
"Therefore I have decided to donate all of the funds that I am due to receive from the ITF to represent my country during this qualifying tie. The money will directly help the Turkish population from regions that have been affected by the earthquake, especially local tennis players that have lost close to everything."
KAZ lead POL 2-0
No.8 seeds Kazakhstan, hosting Poland on indoor clay in Astana, are also yet to concede a set. Yulia Putintseva opened the tie with a 7-5, 6-3 upset of No.19-ranked Magda Linette, her first Top 20 win since advancing via retirement against Paula Badosa in Toronto last August. It was also Putintseva's third win in eight meetings with Linette.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina backed her up with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of No.253-ranked Weronika Falkowska in which she fired nine aces and lost serve only once.
🇰🇿Gutsy tennis from @PutintsevaYulia 💪
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 14, 2023
She takes the first match of the tie 7-5 6-3 #BJKCup | @ktf_kz pic.twitter.com/3IhKzJXFFK
ESP lead MEX 2-0
No.1 seeds Spain also took a 2-0 lead on home soil without the loss of a set against Mexico. Sara Sorribes Tormo, who returned from a six-month injury layoff to reach the Bogota quarterfinals last week, continued her strong comeback form on clay in Marbella. The World No.101 gave her team an opening lead with a 6-0, 6-0 dismissal of Fernanda Contreras in just 67 minutes.
Sorribes Tormo won two of the first three games of the match from 40-0 down, but raced through the second set for the loss of only five points. It was her first double bagel victory since whitewashing Daria Kasatkina in the Sunrise ITF W25 semifinals.
Nuria Parrizas Diaz next built on the Spanish lead with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Renata Zarazua.
Nine Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier ties will take place across the world this weekend, with winners advancing to the Finals in November.