Vondroušová, the Czech number one in the match, became the heroine. The Olympic silver medalist participated in all three points. After Friday’s clear win over Dart, she beat last year’s US Open winner Emma Raducanu twice 6: 1 at the beginning of today’s program. The 16-year-old debutant in the competition, Linda Fruhvirtová, could have decided, but the Darts lost 0: 6, 7: 5 and 2: 6.
“I’m glad I brought so many points. I really enjoyed it at Štvanice,” smiled finalist Roland Garros from 2019 Vondroušová after the doubles. “It was tight, but I didn’t expect it to be easy. But Markéta played evenly,” said Captain Pála on Czech Television.
In singles, Vondroušová taught Raducanu a lesson in clay tennis in the first set. She moved well in cold conditions, kept the ball in play, played long lifts, did not miss a few shorts and only let the British excel from her dangerous forehand.
“I’m happy with the level of my game. I played well, I enjoyed my stay on the court. We’re a new team, a young team, we’re fighting for the finals. I get to the forehands, it’s uncomfortable for the girls, “Vondroušová said.
The Czech left led 3: 0 quickly. Then she lost the service, but she did not let herself decide and finished the first set in 25 minutes by winning three more games in a row.
Raducanu requested treatment and went to the locker room. Due to the winter, Vondroušová was also given an unconventional opportunity to go backstage so as not to catch a cold. In the first game, she faced two breakballs, but she managed the situation. At 2-0, she lost the service for the second time in the match, but then she had no problems with the British, who had a limited foot problem.
“I focused on my game until the end. I knew she was in trouble, but she finished it. I’m glad I played my game, stayed focused and won,” Vondroušová said. “I wanted to help the girls. The two points are amazing, still at home,” Vondroušová said.
Pála then unexpectedly gave Fruhvirtová a chance, which she chose instead of the originally reported Tereza Martincová, who lost to Raducanuová on Friday, and he also preferred her to Muchová and Bouzková. Currently, the 170th player in the world, Fruhvirtová, did not follow Nicole Vaidišová, who made her debut in Štvanice in 2005 on her sixteenth birthday and won the first point of the tennis players in a duel with the Japanese.
Fruhvirt struggled at first and lost the first nine games. She celebrated her first game after winning Dart’s (101st WTA), and suddenly relaxed and showed off her skills. With the help of a fast forehand and combativeness, she made a turn – she deflected three matchwords and won the second set 7: 5.
But the Czech Republic entered the third place badly. She bought mistakes, let Dart score and suddenly it was 0: 5. She reduced to another 2: 5, but eventually lost after two hours and 14 minutes.
Vondroušová and Muchová entered the doubles instead of the ones originally reported by Fruhvirtová and Marie Bouzková. The Czech duo clearly dominated the first set and already led 4: 1 in the second, but lost the lead. Vondroušová played Prim on the court, which she showed in the last game of the match and the winning shortening for the net.
On Friday, Vondroušová lost her only game with Dartová and the world twelve Raducanuová played Martincová twice 7: 5.
As last year, the Czech 11-time champions of the competition will play the final tournament, which is scheduled for November 8-13 at an as yet unspecified place. “One of the options is Prague,” Ivo Kaderka, head of the Czech Tennis Association, told Czech Television. A year ago, the culmination of the competition took place hastily in Prague’s O2 arena and the tennis players dropped out of the group.
