BJK Cup 2023: Winners Morocco secure promotion to Group II as Seychelles suffer relegation

After suffering defeat in their opening game at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup tournament against Kenya, Team Morocco confirmed that it is how you finish whatever you do that matters as opposed to the start as they ended up winners of the twelve team continental competition played at the Nairobi Club from 12-17 June.

This is after the Moroccans beat North African rivals Tunisia 2-1 to emerge as overall winners of the event, consequently securing promotion to Euro/Africa Group II adding to the bragging rights from the win.

The affair proved to be pure box office stuff right from the start as both teams fought to land the first punch in the promotion playoff tie where only the winner would get the ticket to Group II.

Aya El Aouni started the first Singles match strongly for Morocco taking the first set 6-0 as Tunisia's Feryel Ben Hassen struggled to get going early on.

The second set proved to be a much improved affair but still Aouni just edged her opponent 7-5 to hand her side a 1-0 advantage.

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Knowing very well they would be down and out if they lost the second Singles, Tunisia got momentum and used it as Chiraz Bechri drew her side back into the tie after beating Yasmine Kabbaj 6-4, 6-4 forcing the game into the deciding Doubles.

With both teams now just one win away from the ultimate prize of promotion, the Doubles encounter proved to be a very closely contested battle.

The duo of Aouni and Malak El Allami took the first set, that went into a tiebreaker, 7-6 against Bechri and Hassen.

The Tunisians came back charging as they won 3-6 to push the tie into the deciding third set.

The energy expended in pulling level looked to have a toll on them as were broken three times the Moroccans took the set 6-0 to confirm their promotion to Group II.

"We started the tournament with a loss but we did not lose focus all through the week because we were hopeful that anything could still happen. Ultimately it did and we are glad we won. We promise that we will represent Africa very well going to the Euro/Africa Group II," Aouni said afterwards.

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While it was jubilation for Morocco the same could not be said from Seychelles who suffered relegation to Group IV following their last place finish in the competition.

The team lost the 11/12th place playoff 2-0 to Uganda to seal their fate.

Patience Athieno beat Zenab Kante 6-0, 6-1 in the first Singles before Winnie Birungi confirmed safety for the East African side with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.