Switzerland stumbles in Billie Jean King Cup opener after Bandecchi’s collapse
Switzerland's Billie Jean King Cup campaign began on a rocky note as Susan Bandecchi suffered a straight sets defeat to Viktória Hruncáková in the opening singles rubber. The match lasted over an hour and a half, with Bandecchi leading 5-1 in the first set before losing seven consecutive games. The loss leaves Switzerland trailing Slovakia 0-1 in their playoff tie.
The encounter between Bandecchi and Hruncáková was a seesaw affair. Bandecchi started strongly, building a commanding 5-1 lead in the first set. However, Hruncáková fought back, winning the next seven games to take the set 7-5 and the match 6-2 in the second set. The defeat was a disappointing start for Switzerland, who need to finish first in their three-team group to remain in the top tier.
Next up, Simona Waltert will face Rebecca Šramková in the second singles rubber. Following this, a doubles match will take place, with the identity of the Swiss player yet to be revealed. Switzerland's first watch, after their match against Slovakia, will be Argentina, who defeated Slovakia 3-0 on Friday.
Switzerland now faces an uphill battle to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. They must win their remaining matches against Slovakia and Argentina to secure first place in their group and maintain their top-tier status. The team will look to bounce back from Bandecchi's loss and secure crucial points in the upcoming rubbers.
