France Secures Spot in Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs After Victory Over Serbia

France's women's tennis team has qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs following a decisive 2-0 victory against Serbia. Captained by Alizé Cornet in her first match as captain, the French team overcame challenges including injuries to key players Loïs Boisson and Varvara Gracheva, who were absent due to injury. The matches took place on the clay courts of Oeiras near Lisbon under windy conditions.

Rookie players Elsa Jacquemot and Sarah Rakotomanga were pivotal to France's success. Jacquemot, ranked 59th globally, clinched the deciding match after a demanding 2-hour and 14-minute battle, defeating Serbia's Lola Radivojevic (ranked 145th) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Earlier, Rakotomanga (ranked 136th) saved two match points and won against Teodora Kostovic (ranked 161st) in over three hours with a scoreline of 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

This victory ensures France's place in the upcoming playoff round in mid-November, where the team will compete in a best-of-five format against another country either at home or away. The goal is to secure a return to the Billie Jean King Cup's top division, Groupe 1, which features 14 countries. France now joins European contenders Sweden and Hungary in advancing further in the tournament.