FeXd Cup: 0:1 – Sabalenka too strong for Maria

Tatjana Maria has lost the opening game in the Fed Cup against Belarus. She was defeated by the hard-hitter Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.

After a strong start, Maria lost 44 minutes after 1 hour with 6:4,1:6,2:6.

Despite her slightly worse position in the world rankings, Sabalenka (No. 63) had entered the match as a light favourite on the fast rebound ace surface, and in 2017 she had won the only duel between the two of them in Tashkent.

Thirty-year-old Maria, currently number 58 in the world, did not have a good start to the season despite her strong 2017 season, in which she had played her way into the top 50 for the first time. Four games, four defeats, so far. Nevertheless, she went into the game with confidence from the previous year, she said before the game.

Both players dominated the first set with their strong serve and offered little to the opponent. Maria stayed up against the ultra-aggressive Sabalenka from the baseline and forced her to make mistakes with a bold chip-and-charge every now and then – a total package that finally came off at 5:4. It was also a netting attack that Sabalenka answered with too long a backhand and the set win for Maria.

In the second leg, the 19-year-old then also hit Maria better on impact and quickly took the lead with 4:0, which she converted into a 6:1 lead. A total of 13 win blows were fired by the Belarussian, but Maria did not succeed in making 10 mistakes.

In the decisive set, the first service game Sabalenka had a great start seven times, Maria scored points with volleys and a return stop for the break, but Sabalenka managed the direct equalization.

Afterwards Maria had another chance, but lost her service game at the 1:2, despite a 40:15 lead. Although the Bad Saulgauerin continued to fight, Sabalenka managed another break and won the match.