‘An incredible year’ to remember as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova delight in Billie Jean King Cup glory with Russia
The 2021 campaign will live long in the memory of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as Russia lifted the Billie Jean King Cup after a 13-year drought.
Russia defeated Switzerland 2-0 in the final on Saturday with Daria Kasatkina beating Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-4 before Liudmila Samsonova edged Belinda Bencic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to give Russia their first Cup since 2008.
RTF win their fifth Billie Jean King Cup title, and their first since 2⃣0⃣0⃣8⃣ 🎉🎉
Take a look at how it all unfolded…#BJKCupFinals pic.twitter.com/XoVJWSordc
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) November 6, 2021
It capped off a brilliant year for Pavlyuchenkova as she also reached her first Grand Slam final, losing against Barbora Krejcikova at Roland Garros, and won the mixed doubles gold medal alongside Andrey Rublev at the Tokyo Olympics.
“It’s an incredible year, I couldn’t have imagined that I would finish this amazing year on this note because it was incredible. Olympic medal, first Grand Slam final, and I couldn’t imagine I would finish with this medal here,” Pavlyuchenkova said.
“It’s funny that [captain] Igor [Andreev] remembered Poland [in 2019}, where we were really low, playing the group zone matches, we weren’t even in the World Group and I came there after the Australian Open and the only thing, I swear, I had in mind, ‘I want so badly to win the World Cup with the girls with the team’, but I thought it’s so far ahead.
“So we started there and it’s an incredible journey and I’m so grateful for my year.”
Latest
-
NewsKyle Edmund has US Open in his sights after Wimbledon return
The former world number 14 and gram slam semi-finalist has been sidelined for 20 months and undergone three knee operations.
-
WimbledonSimona Halep continues push to regain Wimbledon title
The 2019 champion took her SW19 winning streak to 11 matches by beating fourth seed Paula Badosa in under an hour.
-
WimbledonNick Kyrgios reflects: My agent had to come get me out of a pub
Nick Kyrgios is enjoying getting under people’s skin during his Wimbledon run.
-
Tennis NewsRafael Nadal vs Roger Federer the most interesting rival according to former champion
“I think both of them have taken the game to a different level,” Wilander said.
-
WimbledonInjury cloud hangs over Nick Kyrgios despite gaining Wimbledon quarter-finals
Kyrgios kept his focus on tennis in a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (2) 3-6 6-2 victory.
-
Tennis NewsJohn McEnroe: The wit and wisdom of the outspoken former World No 1
John McEnroe has always had plenty to say.
-
Wimbledon‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ t-shirts see activists ‘harassed’ by security
The group said they had come to Wimbledon to “raise a bit of awareness” after the conversation around the Chinese tennis player had “died down”.
-
WimbledonWimbledon CEO stands by decision to ban Russia and Belarusia players, confirms appeal against WTA fine
AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton said the organisation “deeply disappointed” by reaction to bans.
-
WimbledonWimbledon chief defends scheduling after criticism following Novak Djokovic’s late night
Novak Djokovic’s match against Tim van Rijthoven finished just before 11pm.
-
WimbledonNick Kyrgios’ dad unimpressed by Wimbledon double standards while his brother defends ‘trash talk’
Nick Kyrgios “trash talk” defended by his brother.