Debutante Eva Lys surprisingly secured the first point for the German tennis women in the relegation relegation in the Billie Jean King Cup in Croatia.

The only 20-year-old from Hamburg won in Rijeka against the former top 20 player and Croatian number one Petra Martic 6: 1, 6: 4. In her first appearance in the prestigious team competition, Lys was clearly the better player for a long time and with the victory justified the trust that team manager Rainer Schüttler had placed in her for this important duel.

Lys, who was born in Kyiv and number 123 in the world, played self-confidently, aggressively and at the same time consistently. With two breaks she dominated the first set. Lys immediately took the lead in the second half as well and played unimpressed by the pressure and the music, which was supposed to support Martic, eleven years his senior. Only at 5: 1 in the second round did Lys have problems, but was rewarded with the success of his own serve.

Afterwards, Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier contests the second singles of the first day, the Dortmund native has to deal with the only 16-year-old Petra Marcinko (Tennis Channel) at short notice. Donna Vekic, who was actually planned, was injured.

The decision on staying up in the nations competition, long known as the Fed Cup, will be made on Saturday. In the first round, Germany lost to Kazakhstan with the now pregnant Angelique Kerber.

Information about the Lys profile game on the WTA homepage