Australia chasing Billie Jean King Cup semi-final spot | 17 November, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions
Australia face Slovakia on Sunday night time seeking to attain their fourth semi-final in 5 years, with captain Sam Stosur benefiting from a bunch of choices.
Malaga, Spain, 17 November 2024 | Darren Walton (AAP)
Sam Stosur is aware of historical past issues as Australian tennis gamers struggle for his or her first Billie Jean King Cup title in 50 years.
Runners-up 10 occasions since they final gained the trophy in 1974 when Evonne Goolagong Cawley led the way in which, Australia face Slovakia on Sunday night time seeking to attain their fourth semi-final in 5 years.
Australia reached the finals in 2019 and 2022 below former captain Alicia Molik, and Stosur believes she has a dynamic squad able to difficult for the title once more.
However the first-year captain is wise sufficient to confess that the Slovaks will not be simple, because the underdogs confirmed within the quarterfinal match towards the US 2-1 on Friday.
🇦🇺🆚🇸🇰
Australia will face Slovakia within the remaining #BJKCup quarterfinals💚💛
Protection will start at 8pm AEDT this Sunday at 9GEM once more @StanSportAU
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 15, 2024
“Clearly we have had good outcomes in recent times, reaching finals and semis and stuff like that, however yearly you must begin over,” Stosur stated in a video name from Spain.
“It’s a must to do it yet again like everybody else this time.
“However, yeah, positively, a variety of religion and confidence in all our gamers that we’ve right here. We’ve got 5 high quality tennis gamers that we are able to select from and put our greatest foot ahead on the courtroom each time we get the prospect to go on the market.”
Flooding in Malaga in the course of the week restricted Australia’s follow periods and clouded Stosur’s ideas of choice.
“Look, it’s what it’s. Everybody was in the identical state of affairs. No one ought to have finished something yesterday,” he stated.
“Clearly it is flawed, however I believe town visitors might be extra essential than with the ability to hit tennis balls.”
The 2011 US Open champion trusts whoever takes to the courtroom, as do the gamers themselves after resurgent campaigns in 2024 from Ajla Tomljanovic, Olivia Gadecki and Kimberly Birrell particularly.
Tomljanovic gained a second WTA 125K title in September in Hong Kong earlier than Gadecki and Birrell each made their first tour finals in Guadalajara and Osaka respectively.
“I really feel like I am in a very good place proper now with my recreation,” Gadecki stated.
“I’ve performed a variety of tournaments, a variety of video games this yr, so to have the ability to end within the high 100 is wonderful and I am trying ahead to competing this week.
“I am very keen about singles and doubles.”
To see if Australian @BJKCup the group is on the identical web page 🗒️#GoAussies #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/tF0hU71DLp
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 16, 2024
Like Tomljanovic.
“It is good,” stated the participant who has gained three Grand Slam quarterfinals. “Everyone right here places their hand up for something actually. I believe it is a good factor for a captain to have that.
“Everyone needs to play.”
Fourth-placed Australia or Slovakia will meet defending champions Canada or Nice Britain within the semi-finals.
Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter helped the Brits to a 2-0 win over Germany on Saturday after Iga Swiatek led Poland to a 2-0 win over Spain.
Swiatek additionally stood out within the quarters as Poland beat Czechia 2-1 to achieve the quarter-finals, the place they are going to meet Italy, who gained 2-1 towards Japan within the different quarterfinal within the decrease half of the draw.
