Czech Republic wins the Billie Jean King Cup with authority

It was suspected and so it happens: Czech Republic, of course? It took a few indications to verify that none, not even the very champion Italy, winner of the two previous editions, had as many arguments as the Central European team to win this Billie Jean King Cup, which has resulted in a true ride: three series, six victories and only one set delivered along the way, the one conceded on the first day against Great Britain (2-0). From there, with the turbo already activated, his good work cleared Spain with one blow (2-0) and now with another one against Ukraine in the outcome of the competition, practically a carbon copy of what happened in the previous seasons. That is to say, not the slightest chance for the opponents.

Czechia, then, returns to rule world women's tennis after a strange period of eight years, taking into account the modern strength of the new champion - seven titles in the last two decades - and the extraordinary performance of its youth team. The -ovas, profiles of all colors, triumph again and add the twelfth trophy to their record, six less than the undisputed United States. Without shirking and supported by the solidarity of its players, there is no more consistent and more balanced team, with impeccable direction - that of Barbora Strycova -, an emerging figure - Linda Noskova (21), winner this year at Wimbledon - and a magnificent combination of experience (Muchova and Siniakova, both 30 years old) and youth.

In front was Ukraine, a new finalist who could do little else. War and fall, like everyone else. The previous day they had defeated Italy, but Czechia today represents a much greater challenge. It does not have tennis players with a media profile, but it does have a wide range of more than proven competitors, always there in the big tournaments - whether in the singles or doubles - and convinced this time to end the bad streak of recent years, in which, mysteries, they did not even reach the final. It was crowned for the last time in 2018, with Strycova in its ranks, and it does so now with the then champion on the bench; Only the Australian Margaret Court and the Americans Billie Jean King and Chris Evert achieved such merit.