Australian Billie Jean King Cup captain Sam Stosur says the subsequent couple of weeks shall be essential for choice in Mexico tie
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Australia’s new Billie Jean King Cup captain Sam Stosur has an intriguing choice name to make forward of a finals qualification tie in opposition to Mexico in Brisbane.
Former US Open champion and world quantity 4 Stosur has taken over from long-time chief Alicia Molik and can sit courtside for the essential April 12-13 tie at Pat Rafter Enviornment.
And she or he has an intriguing choice name to make that may set the inspiration of her tenure, with Australia’s highest-ranked participant and solely present top-100 expertise no certainty to be there.
Arina Rodionova this month turned the oldest participant to crack the highest 100, the 34-year-old’s prolific 2023 season netting seven ITF singles titles as she returned from harm to leap greater than 200 rating locations.
However the Russian-born Melburnian is at odds with Tennis Australia, claiming a private vendetta value her a wildcard to the Australian Open earlier this yr in a livid spray after dropping in qualifying.
The present world quantity 99 wasn’t within the image for final November’s Billie Jean King Cup finals, Australia narrowly lacking out on a semi-final berth in Spain.
World primary doubles participant Storm Hunter, Australia’s second-highest singles participant at 120, was the star of that marketing campaign with a singles win and two doubles victories.
She certified for the Australian Open singles and reached the third spherical and has continued her robust doubles type with victory in Dubai final week.
Former world quantity 32 and three-time grand slam quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic, 30, is at the moment Australia’s quantity 11 at 223 as she returns from a long-term harm.
There are eight Australians ranked between her and Hunter, six of these aged 25 or youthful.
“The following couple of weeks are fairly essential for all our Australian gamers to see what their type is,” Stosur, who will choose the staff in two weeks, mentioned.
“How they are going, not simply in January however extra lately, going into the tie.
“You may go down the rating checklist and know all these women are wanting to place their hand up and play within the staff and be a part of it.”
She hinted Hunter’s efforts had her within the field seat to steer the staff once more.
“She’s top-of-the-line gamers on this planet on the doubles courtroom however on this type of competitors she’s stepped up and led the staff the final couple of years together with her performances in singles as nicely,” Stosur mentioned.
“Arina’s our primary participant, simply contained in the 100, however we have got seven or eight women between that 100 or 200 actually making an attempt desperately to get into that 100 as nicely.
“Kim Birrell (at the moment world quantity 159) nearly broke the 100 late final yr. The chance is there, they’re all working as arduous as they will to get there.
“I assumed I used to be type of on the heartbeat (as a participant) however there’s rather a lot that goes on behind the scenes and to this point I’ve actually loved it.”
Stosur was a part of an Australian staff that includes Ash Barty when Brisbane final hosted a tie in 2019, when it was referred to as the Fed Cup.
They beat Belarus 3-2 in an exciting semi-final Stosur remembers fondly.
“There’s at all times an unbelievable environment on this courtroom,” Stosur, who additionally made three French Open semi-finals and one closing, mentioned.
“That 2019 tie, it is a few of the finest reminiscences I’ve obtained of my profession.”
With a return to the match’s finals stage at stake, Australia will begin favourites in opposition to a Mexico staff boasting only one participant contained in the world’s prime 288.
“If you’re taking part in on your nation something can occur, rankings type of exit the window,” Stosur mentioned.
AAP
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