MARIBOR, February 5, 2018

The Slovenian Davis Cup by BNP Paribas team lost 2-3 in the first round of Group II Europe/Africa against Poland. The tie was held inside Lukna Sports Hall in Maribor last weekend.

In Sunday’s decisive fifth rubber, Tom Kocevar Dešman, who played instead of Blaž Rola, lost to Hubert Hurkacz, 3-6, 2-6 in just under one of play.

Earlier in the day, Aljaz Bedene defeated Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-2 to level score at 2-2. Slovenia had trailed after the opening day 1-2 when Bedene and Majchrzak won their singles rubbers. Later on Friday, Bedene and Rola lost the doubles rubber against Mateusz Kowalczyk and Marcin Matkowski 7-5, 6-7, 4-6 in two hours and 22 minutes.

“We made the most of our efforts and I can say that we felt good on the court,” Rola told after the encounter. “We were the better team in the first set but then we got broken two times. It’s really a pity, but we played against doubles specialists, which did not make it easy for us.”

Slovenia will next host Turkey in the Play-Offs, held from 7 to 8 April 2018. Poland advanced to the second round, facing Zimbabwe at home.