“A fun but tough challenge” – Swedish Tennis Association

Lisa Jahr boarded a flight from Arlanda to London on Tuesday. Assignment: Introduction to the context of the Billie Jean King Cup.
– I’m so excited! For me, it would be great to represent Sweden. The girls fought hard in Turkey and we will continue, says the 23-year-old from Enskede.

As you know, the play-off against Great Britain is looming in London. Already on Tuesday evening, captains Johanna Larsen and Jonas Svensson drove a session with the girls, and now they have three more days to prepare before Saturday and Sunday.
Lisa Zar is in good condition. Her doubles win with Keijsa Henneman at the Stockholm Ladies tournament at Nasbypark last Saturday is a testament to that.
– It was fun playing at home in Stockholm, where I was born and raised. It was fun playing in the brand new tennis court. Lisa continues:
– If we take the tennis aspect, I would have gone for singles. Now it’s the quarter-finals, but sometimes it’s like that. Daria, whom I met, acted well. It was great to see Keiza and I win the first doubles title.

He may have bolstered his stock there ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup in London.
– Hi… You should always do well. In the end, Johanna chose a team that said, “I’m ready for anything and I’ll do my best regardless.”

Lisa Jaar during Stockholm Ladies at Nasbypark. Photo: Kent Akesson

In the final, Lisa and Keiza beat Ukraine’s Daria Yesipchuk and Daria Lopatetska 5-7, 6-1, 10-6.
– First of all, we both have good energy and support each other throughout the matches. That is our greatest strength. We complement each other game-wise where Keijsa is consistent underneath and where I want to be in front of the net. Much of that week’s success comes from positive energy. Twins is actually a momentum branch.

Lisa has returned home to Stockholm after a four-year college adventure in America. One of the highlights of this fall and winter season is pronounced Elite Series.
– It will be so much fun! This will be my debut in the elite series, so it will be special for me. It will be fun playing home and away and facing other Swedish teams and seeing what players they bring. A fourth gold for Ensgate LDK would have been great. I hope to contribute to it.

Enskede LTK is the club she grew up with. At the age of 15 she went to KLTK, but since last year she has been back at her parents’ club, where she started playing as a five-year-old. Now that she has moved home, this is also where she stays on a daily basis.
– I am grateful for the support I received at Enscade. It’s actually my club, not just for elite league week. I know everyone here and then we’ve added from other players. I am very attached to the Elite Series. I think we feel very strong like every year, I believe in us. At the same time, there are no easy matches. All teams feel strong.

Lisa Zar and Kajsa Rinaldo Persson (Ystads TK) during the first practice in the competition arena.

However, the full focus is now on what happens at the Copper Box Arena in London this weekend. Besides Lisa, 17-year-old Bella Berqvist Larsson (Helsingborgs TK) is also involved in the environment for the first time. He replaces the injured Rebecca Peterson.
– I love to play in teams! I did it for four years in college, so I have experience with how it works. I know how much it helps to be a team off the court as well. I will do my best both on and off and be a good team player and contribute with encouragement, support and good energy. If it’s a good atmosphere and everyone feels good, you usually play well, says Lisa.

The international match against Great Britain – broadcast on SVT – starts at 15:00 on Saturday with two singles matches. On Sunday, starting at 1 p.m., there will be two singles matches followed by a doubles match.
The winner of the meet will qualify for the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers. The final of the Team Tennis World Cup – the Billie Jean King Cup Final – meant the decisive international match directly in the pot.
– Good opposition can be fun. I think we have a chance. You can win every time you go out on the court. I see a fun but difficult challenge ahead of me. It’s like that all the time, the fun of tennis is getting the job done.

What are the must-haves when packing your bag for a tennis trip?
– Especially in the UK you need to have an adapter. I didn’t have one last time, and then it got harder. Otherwise, I always have shoe spray, Duo to keep shoes fresh, which is a good tip.

Together with Caijsa Hennemann, Lisa has launched a podcast Mine and your head. However, it is not clear whether there will be time to register in London.
– We’ll see, it’s secondary, but now we’re in the same place, maybe we’ll do it. On the way, we were stopped at the toll booth on the way in when the microphones went out.

This weekend it will be Lisa and Kaijsa and the rest of the Swedes who stop the English – with their tennis rackets.

Broadcast times are SVT

November 11
15.00-20.00, SVT Play
15.00-17.50, SVT1/play

November 12
13.00-20.00, SVT Play
13.15-13.55, SVT1/Play
13.55-14.30, SVT2/play