Great Britain turned out to be a very difficult task for Sweden in the playoff meeting of the Billie Jean King Cup.
After the 1-3 defeat, next year's rematch in Group 1 awaits.
– We had a clear goal all week and that was to win this match. When we gathered before the game, we said we will finish what we came here for. “Unfortunately we lost, but at the same time I'm proud of the girls' effort,” says national team captain Johanna Larsen.
Without injured leading players Rebecca Pietersen and Mirjam Björklund, Sweden lost ahead of this weekend's meeting with Great Britain in London.
But the Swedes gave the English a match.
On Saturday, world number 372 Gaja Rinaldo Persson staged the Swedish dream start with a major upset against 93rd-ranked Jody Burrage.
Caijsa Hennemann (ranked 532) failed to repeat her compatriot's feat – 58th-ranked Katie Boulder was just too much to level the score at 1-1 after the first day's play.
On Sunday, Boulder won again. Despite four Swedish set points in the second set, Brit Gajsa held on against Rinaldo Persson to give the home team a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth singles match, Harriet Dort (ranked 138) secured a 3–1 victory to give Great Britain a straight sets victory over Keiza Hennemann.
– You must not forget that playing in this arena with such a big audience and Sweden behind you is not always an easy task. Great Britain did well and we congratulate them on their victory, concludes national team captain Johanna Larsson:
– I'm sad and disappointed that it didn't work out, but at the same time I'm incredibly proud of the girls' performance and the way they acted. We had three words all week – brave, strong and humble – and I think we're leaving London having fulfilled that.
Next year, a continuation of the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 awaits Sweden (Sweden won the group stage this year, thus qualifying for this weekend's tournament).
For Great Britain, progress to the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier awaits, a direct decider for a place in the finals of the World Tennis Team Championships – Billie Jean King Cup Final.
More information and comments at Tennis.se.
Great Britain–Sweden 3–1
Jodi Burrage-Gaja Rinaldo Person 4–6, 1–6
Katie Boulder-Kaijsa Henman 6–2, 6–1
Katie Boulder–Gajza Rinaldo Persson 6–1, 7–6(5)
Harriet Dart-Kaisa Henman 7–5, 6–2
Harriet Dart/Heather Watson–Bella Bergquist Larson/Lisa Jahr Not played
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