Great Britain Claim World Team Cup Silver Medal
28th May 2013Great Britain’s women claimed silver in the final of the World Team Cup.
British duo Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley, who claimed a historic women’s doubles bronze at London 2012 last year, were edged out by top seeds Netherlands in the final in Antalya, Turkey.
Shuker and Whiley earned a spot in the final with a gutsy 2-1 win over Germany in Thursday’s semi-final.
Whiley made an encouraging start to the final but went down 7-5, 6-2 in the first singles rubber to Jiske Griffioen.
To keep Great Britain in the tie Shuker had to see off world no. 1 Aniek van Koot in the second singles rubber and soon found herself 5-1 down in the opening set.
Shuker battled back to make it 5-3 but van Koot eventually proved too strong, completing a 6-3, 6-2 victory to give the Netherlands a 26th World Team Cup women’s title.
Shuker said: “We are delighted to have come away from the World Team Cup with silver, it wasn’t gold but we came up against a very good Netherlands side and have to be very proud of a silver medal.”
Whiley said: “Netherlands gave us a really tough test but I’m so proud that we were able to get to the final as there were some great teams in this competition.
“I’ve had a bronze and a silver in the World Team Cup at senior level so the next logical step is for Lucy and I to push on and make it a gold next time around.”
The World Team Cup is the wheelchair tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup.