To the cheers and drumbeats of the Kazakh fans, Angelique Kerber left the pitch at a brisk pace, disappointed.
After two individual defeats in the qualifying game in Nur-Sultan, the German tennis women in the Billie Jean King Cup are threatened with the fight against relegation.
As a top German player, the slightly favored Kerber lost to Julia Putinzewa after almost two hours 6: 3, 3: 6, 2: 6.
Laura Siegemund had no chance in the 0: 6, 1: 6 duel with Jelena Rybakina and was outclassed by the world ranking nineteenth.
"It was my first match on clay, which is never easy for me," said Kerber about her defeat on the less-loved surface.
"It's a shame and of course I'm disappointed too.
In the end I try to take the positives out of it: I came to Kazakhstan for Germany to play for the country.
I gave everything on the pitch.”
Due to the 0:2 deficit, the selection of the German Tennis Association has to win both singles and the final doubles on Saturday in order to still reach the finals from November 8th to 13th.
Otherwise it goes on 11./12.
November against relegation.
Most recently, in 2013, the German team did not play in the top group of the most important women's team competition, which was then called the Fed Cup.
After a nervous start on both sides, Kerber won the first set without any major problems.
In the second round, the error rate for the 34-year-old increased, Putinzewa gained sovereignty and at times secured five games in a row.
In the last set, Kerber was quickly 0:3 behind, fought and celebrated winning the first game with a loud scream.
But there was no emotional turnaround, after a backhand out the 0:1 was perfect.
A total of 48 unforced errors were an expression of the current lack of security.
After their pre-season preparations, which were affected by a corona infection, Kerber is far from top form.
The 2018 Wimbledon winner lost her opening game at the Australian Open and two other tournaments, and the only two wins of the season so far have been in Indian Wells.
On Saturday, in the top duel with Rybakina, success is now a must in order to still have the very small chance of progressing.
"It will be a completely different match," said Kerber.
"I hope to feel a little better and more comfortable on clay."
In Nur-Sultan the German team has to do without Andrea Petkovic as regular number two due to injury.
Team captain Rainer Schüttler put his trust in Siegemund, who had been absent for a long time after knee surgery last August.
Against Rybakina, fourth at the Olympics, the 34-year-old made four double mistakes in the first round alone. Siegemund had to admit defeat after only 65 minutes, despite a brief struggle at the beginning of the second set.