Despite the stake and the will, the French female team lost to Belgium, reducing its hopes as a rise in the elite it had left in November. A bitter defeat that seals its maintenance in the world division of the Billie Jean King Cup, far from the ambitions of yesteryear.
Even before the double, the French have lost their two single in front of quasi-vévanti stands. Alizé Cornet then Varvara Gracheva gave up against Belgian players Jeline Vandromme and Greet Minnen Friday in Vilnius.
Back on the thirteen month circuit after retiring to Roland-Garros, Cornet, now 460th in the world at 35, was first logically lost 6-3, 6-3 against Jeline Vandromme, 758th at 17 years old.
Alizé Cornet did not exist
On the defensive throughout the match, Cornet was in great difficulty on his service and could not resist the physical freshness of the Belgian, losing on a service winning after two hours of play. The ghost appeared physically borrowed and needed the intervention of the physiotherapist between the two sets.
In the second simple, Varvara Gracheva (67th) suffered the same fate against Greet Minnen (92nd), even if she resisted a little more. Beaten 6-2 in the first set, she equalized by winning the second 6-4. But the Frenchwoman fell back into her faults in the 3rd set (6-1). Minnen concluded on a white game and a direct fault of Gracheva.
Julien Benneteau’s team was to win to participate in the dams in November, which would reintegrate the elite of the BJK Cup in 2026. They will finally remain in the “Europe/Africa I group”, the official appellation of this second division.
Victorious of Sweden 3-0 for their first group match on Tuesday, the Bleues lost 2-1 Wednesday against Turkey, losing in passing Clara Burel, seriously injured in the right knee.