Sramkova may be ranked 32 places below world No 11 Collins, but she made light work of her in the first set, and then battled back in the second to take the match 6-2 7-5. It was the best win of her career on ranking and her first Billie Jean King Cup victory since 2017 (as well as her first appearance in four years). It also came after the best season of her career, where she won her first title in Hua Hin.
“I still have no words,” she said. “I was in the zone today. She’s anyway [an] amazing player, all respect to her. I was just playing unbelievable today, so I’m happy I got the chance after a few years and I showed what I played the whole year.”
Slovakia had come into the tie with a 1-0 record against the USA, but were by no means favourites. On ranking, the USA were far superior and looked to be on their way to progress through the competition.
Earlier in the evening, Townsend won the first point for the USA in her singles debut after getting past 17-year-old Renata Jamrichova in straight sets, 7-5 6-4. But the tie was turned on its head by two scintillating performances from the Slovakian side, who emerged as deserved winners.
For a USA team that had ambitions of winning the competition this year, their trophy drought – which stretches back to 2017 – continues.