Billie Jean King Cup Final: Belinda Bencic leads Switzerland to first title victory
Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and Jil Teichmann won their singles rubbers to triumph over Australia 2-0 to claim Switzerland's maiden title in the women's world cup of tennis.
Tennis
Reigning Olympic champion Belinda Bencic swept past Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-1 to hand Switzerland its first Billie Jean King Cup title in Glasgow on Sunday (13 November).
Bencic sealed the victory after Jil Teichmann gave Switzerland the advantage with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over Storm Sanders in the opening rubber.
Switzerland overcame the seven-time champions 2-0, winning their two singles matches and, in the process, avoiding the doubles decider.
The Billie Jean King Cup final – formerly known as the Fed Cup – pitted the last two runners-up in the competition. The Swiss finally got their hands on the silverware after losing to the Russian Tennis Federation in last year’s final in Prague. Australia lost a home final to France in Perth in 2019 under the competition’s previous format.
Bencic was in red-hot form, getting herself on the front foot from the get-go versus Tomljanovic and never looking in doubt. The Olympic champion finished the Final week without dropping a set.
Switzerland stops upset-minded Aussies
Australia came into the contest looking for their first title in the competition in 48 years after Sanders spearheaded a semi-final victory over the host nation Great Britain on Saturday (12 November).
Teichmann, ranked 35th in the world, found the going tough compared to their previous duel in last year’s semi-finals - which she had easily won 6-0, 6-3. Leading by a set and going a break up in the second, Teichmann held the clear advantage.
But Sanders (ranked 10th in doubles but world No. 237 in singles) dug deep after receiving treatment on her calf to win the second set – after Teichmann double-faulted on break point – forcing the contest to a third-set decider.
The Australian’s run of five victories this week ultimately came to an end following a two-hour-and 18-minute fight.
The Swiss win caps a phenomenal effort over the past 18 months for Bencic on the international stage, her singles gold in Tokyo bolstered by doubles silver with Victorija Golubic - and now Sunday's Billie Jean King Cup trophy.