Germany face deciding tie to avoid another BJK Cup relegation
German tennis player Ella Seidel is in action against Russia'S Oksana Selekhmeteva during their Women's First-Round tennis match of the 2026 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Frank Molter/dpa Germany won their final group tie 2-0 against Denmark on Thursday but still faces a second straight relegation in the Billie Jean King Cup. Latvia are the likely opponents in a deciding tie on Saturday in the women's tennis team event.
Germany started the day in Oeiras near Lisbon with a chance to win the group and remain in contention for promotion back into the top tier World Group. But Tessa Brockmann and Ella Seidel lost the deciding doubles rubber of the tie with Sweden, which started the previous day, 6-2, 6-4 against Caijsa Wilda Hennemann and Lisa Zaar for a 2-1 defeat. Having also lost 2-1 against Portugal, the only success then came against the Danes.
Noma Noha Akugue defeated Rebecca Munk Mortensen 6-4, 6-1 and Ella Seidel rallied to beat Johanne Christine Svendsen 1-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-0. Germany are playing without their best player Eva Lys under new captain Torben Beltz.