Fed Cup Ulcinj: Macedonia overcome Ireland to reach play-offs
A battling performance from Katarina Marinkovikj and Magdalena Stoilkovska saw FYR Macedonia battle back to defeat Ireland and take an unassailable lead at the top of Pool B in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Europe/Africa Zone Group III event in Ulcinj Montenegro.
In an entertaining tie, where all three rubbers went to a deciding set, the Macedonian pair ultimately had too much for Irish youngsters Jennifer Timotin and Georgia Drummy to handle.
Results in Pool A and Pool D saw Luxembourg and Norway qualify for the promotion play-offs – like FYR Macedonia, both still have one more pool tie to play.
Playing on Court 4 of the Bellevue Tennis Club, Timotin got Ireland off to a perfect start, dominating the third set as she won 63 36 61 against Marinkovikj. And Drummy continued the Irish momentum, as she won the first set of her match with Stoilkovska.
But the Macedonian No. 1 came roaring back, eventually taking the match 36 75 64 to send the tie into a decisive third rubber. All four players returned to court, and the Macedonian pair proved too strong for the Drummy and Timotin, winning 75 46 63 in two hours and 12 minutes.
The result means that neither Ireland nor Armenia – who defeated Iceland 3-0 in the other Pool B clash today – can overtake FYR Macedonia at the top of the pool.
In Pool A, Luxembourg also had to dig deep to defeat a determined Greek team, especially after Despina Papamichail had put her nation in the lead with a 76(9) 64 win over Luxembourg’s Eleonora Molinaro.
But as she had done in Monday’s tie with Tunisia, Luxembourg No. 1 Mandy Minella won a tough three-setter – this time against Maria Sakkari, 62 26 63 – to level the scores, before teaming up with Claudine Shaul to win a decisive doubles match.
Tunisia defeated Malta in the other Pool A tie today, but the Luxembourg team’s win over the Tunisians on Monday means that they advance to the play-offs.
Things were much more straightforward for Norway and hosts Montenegro in Pool D, with neither dropping a set in victories over Kosovo and Mozambique respectively. Norway will join Luxembourg and FYR Macedonia in Saturday’s promotion play-offs, with no team now able to better its record.
On Thursday, the final promotion play-off place will be settled as Pool C reaches its conclusion. Cyprus take on Moldova and Madagascar face Algeria, with teams in Pool A and D also in action.
Click here for more information about Europe/Africa Zone Group III.
