Switzerland thrashed Italy 2-0 on Wednesday to open its campaign at the BJK Cup in Glasgow with Jil Teichmann and Belinda Bencic providing the firepower.
Teichmann needed three sets – she saved a match point – to overcome Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) while Bencic easily dismissed Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-3 to clinch the unbeatable scoreline.
The Swiss have something to prove in the women’s equivalent of the Davis Cup after losing the final a year ago to Russia.
“I feel awesome, I’m super happy, super relieved that I got this important point for our team,'” Teichmann said. “I knew coming in it would be a fight.”
The 65th-ranked Cocciaretto had won eight of her last nine matches between Challenger and Tour play.
Teichmann said he teammates helped her to the win.
“You have a full team on your backs that’s cheering for you each point, and you want to win for them – it’s not only about you.
“We were super close last year. I took everything as motivation.”
WTA No. 12 Bencic assured the winning scoreline with three breaks of Paolini in the second set.
Main photo:- Jil Teichmann (SUI) took three sets to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto
