Anne lost 6-3, 6-3 to Kremer....so we lose to Luxembourg....v disappointing

We now have to hope that GB somehow bt Poland and Bulgaria bt Luxembourg

from the sound of things Naomi kinda choked, she served for the match at 6-4, 5-3 and then led 4-2 in the final set She must be totally gutted

I agree with Panda, I think Naomi would beat both Bally and Anne on clay in a 25K

The first rubber is a must-win for Britain and Baltacha faces 20 year old Marta Domachowska who's ranked 161 but has a career best of 37 !! (reached in April 2006) so it's going to be an extremely tough ask for Bally, especially on clay. Domachowska has had some impressive results so far this year, making the semis of a 75K on French clay and also winning a match in Indian Wells before losing to Safina in 3 tight sets.

Naomi faces the prodigously talented 18 year old Agnieszka Radwanska in the 2nd rubber. Radwanska is a former world junior no 1, she won junior Wimbledon in 2005 and the French Open junior title last year. On the womens tour she's soared up to her current ranking of 42. She reached the 4th round of Miami last month, stunning Martina Hingis in 3 sets along the way and a couple of weeks before, she'd only narrowly lost to Lucie Safarova in a final set tiebreak in Indian Wells. Whatever the result of this one, it'll be very interesting to see how Naomi does against a top 50 player on clay. At Wimbledon last year she gave Ai Sugiyama (who was top 20) a close match but she's never faced a top 100 player on a surface other than grass.

Marta Domachowska def. Elena Baltacha 6-1 6-4

We're gonna have to hope for a miracle from Naomi....she needs the performance of her life to keep us in this

Because Domachowska is currently ranked 161 to Ula's 342....also Domachowska has been as high as 37 !!!! (last April)...she's also a much better clay player, while Ula lost 1 and 2 in the first qualifying round for a 75K on clay recently, Domachowska made the semis in the main draw.

Bally had to beat her which was always going to be a v tall order on clay...and as we can see, she's been outplayed.

On clay, I dont think any of the British players would have much chance against Aga, Naomi's definately got the best shot but it'll take the performance of her life to get a set ! Aga beat Hingis earlier this year and nearly beat Safarova !!!

pity after such a good first day.

Needed 3-0 to qualify didn't we?

johnnylad wrote:

---

pity after such a good first day.

Needed 3-0 to qualify didn't we?

---

nope we can get through with a 2-1 win as long as Bulgaria bt Luxembourg (which now looks doubtful as Minella beat Evtimova in the first rubber and Pironkova is playing rubbish so Kremer will surely beat her)