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Gisela Dulko (ARG)
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Martina Muller (GER)
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Martina Muller (GER) with captain Barbara Rittner
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Gisela Dulko (ARG)
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Angelique Kerber (GER)
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Betina Jozami (ARG)
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 27 Apr 2008
27 Apr 2008 - Pilara Tennis Club, Buenos Aires - Rodrigo Valdebenito - ARG v GER
Debutante Jozami steals the show
Betina Jozami has scored her first ever Fed Cup singles victory and ultimately a place in the 2009 World Group for Argentina, defeating Angelique Kerber 63 61 in the fourth rubber. Both players replaced the original line-up of Jorgelina Cravero and Sabine Lisicki.

Jozami, who has only played one tour-level event this year, reaching the semifinals in Bogota as a qualifier, took just 1 hour 11 minutes to defeat Kerber who is still waiting for her first victory in Fed Cup.

Argentina's victory ensures its promotion to the World Group for 2009, having not appeared in the elite eight since 2005. For Germany, it's a second consecutive year in World Group II.

Dulko in great form

Ricardo Rivera, Argentina’s captain, had said yesterday that whoever won the third singles would be in a good position to win the tie. Gisela Dulko and Martina Muller entered the court in order to confirm or dismiss Rivera’s prediction.

Dulko managed to push fiercely over Muller’s scarcely effective serve, and the results proved her right. When Dulko was winning 62 4-1 in the second set Muller raised her game and broke to equalise the score, but the Argentine star felt the pressure and managed to keep ahead until winning 62 64.

“I think her serve is the weakest part of her game,” Dulko said. “I was calm during all the game and managed to go ahead. I never felt nervous; when (Muller) equalised in the second set, I knew what had happened, so I knew what to do to overcome it.”

Jozami, surprise hero

Before the draw, Betina Jozami appeared as the fourth player of the home team. But her good form during the week, Salerni’s ankle injury and Cravero’s poor performance on Friday earned her the right to start the fourth singles, replacing Cravero.

Sabine Lisicki, on the other hand, had not shown much on Friday, so captain Barbara Rittner chose to replace her as well, in this case with Angelique Kerber.

From the beginning, Jozami’s powerful serve set the point for what was to happen. She started moving Kerber one side to the other, permanently breaking her opponent’s serve, and quickly controlled the game without much effort.

When 5-0 ahead in the second set, Jozami had a little trouble closing the game, but overcame the nerves and won 61, giving Argentina the third point and a place in the all-important World Group.

Germany made the final scoreline a respectable 3-2 when Lisicki and Jasmin Woehr beat Cravero and Jozami 60 16 76(2) in the dead double rubber.



Related Links on other websites
> Información en español - AAT
> Informationen auf Deutsch – DTB

Related Links on Fedcup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
> All square in Buenos Aires
> Dulko looks for positive start

Related audio

  Interview with Ricardo Rivera (ARG) - day 2

  Interview with Gisela Dulko (ARG) - day 2

  Interview with Betina Jozami (ARG) - day 2

  Interview with Barbara Rittner (GER) - day 2

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