Israel falls to Poland; playoff hopes dim

The national team got its Europe/Africa Zone Group I Pool B campaign off to an ideal start with a 3-0 victory over Luxemburg.

By ALLON SINAI
Israel’s hopes of advancing to the Fed Cup World Group II playoffs suffered a significant blow on Thursday with a 2-1 loss to Poland in Eilat.
The national team got its Europe/Africa Zone Group I Pool B campaign off to an ideal start with a 3-0 victory over Luxemburg on Wednesday, but the defeat to Poland means it no longer has its fate in its own hands.
In order to finish top of its pool and progress to a tie for a place in the World Group II playoffs on Saturday, Israel must beat Bulgaria in its final group game on Friday, and Luxemburg must stun the Poles.
“We promised we would give our best, but we never promised we would always win,” captain Lior Mor said. “This group is still wide open and we will now have to beat Bulgaria.”
Julia Glushko (world no. 205) is set to face either Elitsa Kostova (209) or Dia Evtimova (246) in the first of Friday’s matches, with Shahar Pe’er (11) to play Tsvetana Pironkova (33) in the second singles encounter of the day ahead of the doubles showdown.
Glushko claimed her second victory in as many days on Thursday, giving Israel the start it wanted against Poland.
The 21-year-old outplayed Magda Linette (171) in the important points and completed an impressive 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Glushko’s win gave Pe’er the chance to secure another Israeli victory, but she never really found her footing against Agnieszka Radwanska (10).
The Pole dictated play from the start of the match and eventually claimed a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win against an erratic Pe’er.
Pe’er and Glushko still had another chance to clinch the win in the doubles match, but Radwanska and Klaudia Jans dominated proceedings on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 victory that seriously complicated Israel’s situation.
“We were very close even though the score line doesn’t show it,” Pe’er said. “It’s depressing to lose, but tomorrow is a new day and we need to forget about this defeat.”