Iva Jovic suffered a shock defeat within the opening match of the US and Belgium Billie Jean King qualifiers tie after world No. 94 Hanne Vandewinkel handed this 12 months's Australian Open quarterfinalist a 7-6 (3) 6-3 defeat.
Since Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova aren’t enjoying this weekend, world No. 16 Jovic is the highest-ranked American feminine tennis participant on the workforce. And she or he can be making her debut within the Billie Jean King Cup.
By way of the opening 12 video games of the match, not a single break was seen. Then, the 94th-ranked Belgian – who was enjoying in entrance of her dwelling crowd in Ostend – gained three consecutive factors to open a 5-2 tie-break lead earlier than changing her first set level to take the opener.
After profitable the primary set, Vandewinkel – who began the 12 months ranked at No. 125 on this planet – claimed the primary break of the match and went 3-0 up. Main 5-2, the Belgian had two consecutive match factors, however didn’t convert as Jovic managed to outlive the eighth sport. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old remained calm and routinely served out for the match within the following sport.
Hanne Vandewinkel will get the job DONE towards Iva Jovic 😤
Can Belgium trigger an upset and take out 18-time World Champions USA? 👀#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/NHLbEtFlxh
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 10, 2026
Jovic's defeat places the US in an uncomfortable spot
Within the second match of the US and Belgium tie, it will likely be as much as world No. 48 McCartney Kessler to beat Elise Mertens and degree the tie to at least one win apiece. Nevertheless, it will likely be simpler mentioned than achieved since world No. 20 Mertens is the favourite to win.
If Kessler loses, the US might want to win all three matches on Saturday, or in any other case they gained't make the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
