Ireland's women's team got off to the worst possible start as top seeds in pool A of the Fed Cup qualifying rounds with a 2-1 defeat by unseeded Latvia in Antalya, Turkey, yesterday.
Two 17-year-old unknowns combined to cause the damage after Yvonne Doyle used her greater experience and power off the ground to brush aside the youthful exuberance of Liona Gibert 6-3, 6-4 .
The Latvian's other teenager, Kathna Bandere, proved a handful for Ireland's top-ranked player, Kelly Liggan, and the Spanish based Liggan lost a match which she was expected to win 6-3, 6-4.
The two Latvians teamed up for the doubles against Doyle and Karen Nugent and were generally more consistent, especially on service, to run out 6-3 6-4 winners.
Ireland, hot favourites to win yesterday, now find themselves struggling having yet to meet fifth seeded Georgia.
"We can get back and qualify yet," said Irish coach Peter Lowther. "A win over Malta today and victory for Georgia over Latvia would put us back in it and ready for a deciding match against Georgia on Thursday."
