Daria Kasatkina aiming for Australian Billie Jean King Cup debut in Tasmania
Australia will host a Billie Jean King Cup tie in Tasmania in November, with Daria Kasatkina hoping she'll be cleared to be in contention to make her debut for her adopted country in the world cup of women's tennis.
The draw for the play-offs was made in London on Thursday when it was revealed that Sam Stosur's Australia team will host a three-pronged play-off tie against Brazil and Portugal in Hobart between November 14 and 16.
Kasatkina, the new Australian number one after gaining permanent residence in March, has previously competed in the Billie Jean King Cup for her native Russia.
The 28-year-old said she was hopeful of making her debut in the green and gold this year.
She admitted, however, it was still unclear when and if she would get clearance to play.
"Talking about the Billie Jean King Cup, that process is more complicated, which is not depending on me," she told reporters.
"It's something which Tennis Australia has to deal with the ITF [International Tennis Federation]. This is where it's already different language. I'm not going to be the part of it. This is where the federation has to deal with the ITF."
If she does get clearance and is selected, the Australian team would be a strong favourite to top its three-team round-robin group at Hobart's Domain Tennis Centre against two teams that don't have the same depth to call on.
Even without Kasatkina, the world number 16, Stosur has rising teenager star Maya Joint (number 52), Ajla Tomljanović (number 66) and Kim Birrell (number 79) to choose from in the top 100, while Olivia Gadecki is 104.
Grand slam finalist Ellen Perez is the 16th-ranked doubles player in the world.
In contrast, Brazil has only one stand-out player in 21st-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia, with their next two on the WTA computer being the number 219 Laura Pigossi and number 240 Carolina Alves.
The Portuguese will be the rank outsiders, with their hopes resting on two sisters, 21-year-old Matilde Jorge (number 251) and her 25-year-old sibling Francisca, who's at 259.
Stosur's team will be hoping to get back among the elite next year by winning the November tie after failing to reach this season's week-long final which will be held in Shenzhen, China, in September.
Play-offs draw:
Group A: (Monterrey, Mexico): Canada, Mexico, Denmark
Group B: (Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland): Poland, Romania, New Zealand
Group C: (Cordoba, Argentina): Slovakia, Switzerland, Argentina
Group D: (Varazdin, Croatia): Czech Republic, Colombia, Croatia
Group E: (Hobart, Australia): Australia, Brazil, Portugal
Group F: (Ismaning, Germany): Germany, Belgium, Turkey
Group G: (Bengaluru, India): Netherlands, Slovenia, India
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