Unprecedented chemistry between Marchenko and Zavatska: In November, while we may not be invincible, we remain unbeatable.
Last weekend, on November 17-18, the Ukrainian women's national team defeated Austria 3:2 in the Billie Jean King Cup. This victory allowed the Ukrainians to avoid falling into the Euro-African jungle, and in April 2025, they will compete in the "qualifiers" for a chance to advance to the elite round.
It is worth noting that the unofficial World Championship has slightly changed its format again, but we will discuss this in detail after the draw, when our next opponent is determined.
Meanwhile, let's return to the hard court of the McKinney Arena, where a true drama unfolded over two days. Trailing 1:2, Ukraine turned the match around in a remarkable display of resilience and secured a crucial victory (3:2). The last time our girls found themselves in such a difficult position was back in 2011, when Olga Savchuk and Lesya Tsurenko snatched victory in Australia.
After 13 years, the script repeated itself, and the unexpected heroine was the lioness in the Ukrainian team – Kateryna Zavatska. Why unexpected? Just a few weeks ago, it was hard to imagine that Katya would end up playing three matches in two days.
Kateryna Zavatska
The thing is, the planned squad for the November meeting changed almost at the last moment. Marta Kostyuk found herself in the spotlight after posting a brief refusal to visit Dallas following her vacation in the Maldives.
Filling the top spot on such short notice was nearly impossible, so the debutant captain Illia Marchenko had to make do with the forces already declared. The role of the ace fell to the experienced Lesya Tsurenko, while Zavatska was almost exclusively burdened with the responsibility of being the second leader.
Moreover, another force majeure occurred within the "yellow-blue" camp: newly called debutant Anastasia Lopata broke her arm and was removed from the list of potential jokers in Marchenko's deck. However, we must give credit to the 19-year-old tennis player, who remained with the team and undoubtedly gained unforgettable experience over these two emotional competition days.
The team was supplemented by the experienced Nadiia Kichenok and another debutant – Anastasia Soboleva, who has only just begun to savor the aroma of Grand Slam tournaments this season.
The first day ended with a split of victories: Tsurenko pulled off a tough match against former world No. 26 Tamira Paszek, while Zavatska narrowly lost to Sinja Kraus in a tight three-setter – 1:1.
Serious anxieties arose following Tsurenko's crushing defeat in the opening match of the second day (1:6, 1:6).
Lesya Tsurenko
The choice of lineup for the fourth match was of platinum importance. And while Marchenko had no doubts about Zavatska, former tennis player Marion Maruska made a substitution and opted for Yuliia Grabher, who is formally ranked 523rd in the world. Interestingly, just last year, she was ranked 54th, while Katya had yet to break into the top 100 even a week prior.
Surprisingly, Zavatska's level of tennis while representing the team differs significantly from her individual performances. Additionally, some invisible chemistry seemed to work in favor of Marchenko and Katya – their harmony is truly remarkable. But most importantly – 6:2, 7:5, and Ukraine remains in the match. 2:2!
Furthermore, Kateryna broke a streak of four consecutive losses while representing the national team (including the "dead" doubles match against Japan).
The composition of the decisive pair left several options. Who would complement Nadiia Kichenok most effectively? Tsurenko, who had recovered? Debutant Soboleva? Or Zavatska, who had expended considerable energy but was riding an emotional high?
The choice fell to Katya, and while not diminishing Nadiia's contributions (without her, I suspect, everything would have ended sadly), it was Katya who delivered a whirlwind finish in the third set. The result – 5:7 (what pressure at that moment!), 6:2, 6:4 – phew. Victory!
Kateryna Zavatska and Nadiia Kichenok
Facts and Figures
First and foremost, it's worth noting that Ukraine has not lost in November: three matches, three victories. And all of them have occurred in the last three years.
The match against Austria marked the 103rd in the history of the independent Ukrainian women's team, which played its inaugural match on May 10, 1993.
The head-to-head record against the Austrians has shifted in our favor:
- 0:1 – Austria – Ukraine (3:0, 1994);
- 1:1 – Ukraine – Austria (2:1, 2014);
- 2:1 – Ukraine – Austria (3:2, 2024).
I have mentioned my immense respect for Lesya Tsurenko due to her professional approach to the game, so here I must give another nod – without Lesya, this victory would not have happened. At 35 years old, in the endgame of a challenging season for her, she extended a lifeline to Ukraine, preventing it from sinking in the swamps of Africa and Europe.
Lesya Tsurenko, counting the fingers:
- Won her 13th singles match for the national team, ranking second only to Olena Tatarkova (17), and Alona Bondarenko and Elina Svitolina (15 each);
- Played her 20th match – equalized with Yuliia Beygelzimer and ranks behind only Tatarkova (27) and Savchuk (25);
- And most notably – she moved into second place for the number of matches played for the national team, tying with sisters Katya and Alona Bondarenko (34 each). The benchmark remains Olena Tatarkova (38).
We have already discussed Nadiia Kichenok's significant contributions; we only note that she has secured a spot in the top 10 most experienced players on the team (tied for 9th with Marta Kostyuk, having played 14 matches). The meeting with Austria was Nadiia's 13th match (8th in the overall registry).
Top players of the Ukrainian team by number of matches won:
- Olena Tatarkova – 27;
- Kateryna Bondarenko – 23;
- Alona Bondarenko – 22;
- Olha Savchuk – 21;
- Yuliia Beygelzimer – 18;
- Lesya Tsurenko – 17;
- Elina Svitolina – 15;
- Tetyana Perebiynis – 10;
- Marta Kostyuk – 10
...
12. Nadiia Kichenok – 7;
16. Kateryna Zavatska – 6.
The main heroine of the duel, Kateryna Zavatska, scored two points in one match for the first time. She now has 11 individual matches (six wins and five losses). Although no number can convey the weight of her incredible performance, which kept fans on edge until three in the morning!...
It is also worth highlighting the challenging debut for the women's national team captain Illia Marchenko. Had he lost his first match against modest Austria, not even the Svitolina Foundation, under which the national team match took place for the first time, would have saved him from a wave of criticism. Moreover, we can assume that this victory can be called a coaching one. All of Marchenko's tough decisions ultimately yielded positive results, and his synergy with Zavatska has already been noted as an exemplary case.
Ihor Hrachov, for Champion
Responsible editor – Mykola Dendak