Latest news with #Stosur
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Kasatkina will hope to make BJK Cup bow 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. When Kasatkina, the new Australian No.1 after gaining permanent residence in March, was asked about her ambitions of competing in the BJK Cup having previously competed for her native Russia, she talked of her enthusiasm about making a green-and-gold debut. But talking at Roland Garros, she admitted 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 organisers). 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 strong favourites to top their three-team round-robin group at Hobart's Domain Tennis Centre against two teams who don't have the same strength-in-depth to call on. Even without Kasatkina, the world No.16, Stosur has rising teenager star Maya Joint (No.52), Ajla Tomljanovic (No.66) and Kim Birrell (No.79) to choose from in the top 100, while Olivia Gadecki is 104. Ellen Perez is the 16th-ranked doubles player in the world. In contrast, Brazil have only one stand-out player in the shape of 21st-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia, with their next two on the WTA computer being the No.219 Laura Pigossi and No.240 Carolina Alves. The Portuguese team will be the rank outsiders with their hopes resting on two sisters, 21-year-old Matilde Jorge (No.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 their 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
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussies to ‘embrace' underdog tag
Australia will happily 'embrace' the underdog tag in Thursday's Billie Jean King Cup qualifying battle against Kazakhstan in Brisbane. The Australians' hopes of topping their three-team group and reaching the Cup finals could very hinge on their best-of-three tie – which consists of two singles matches and one doubles contest – against the Kazakhstanis at Pat Rafter Arena. Of the three Group D nations, that also include Colombia, Kazakhstan has the two highest placed singles players – Elena Rybakina (10) and Yulia Putintseva (23).– in the world rankings. Rybakina was the Wimbledon champion in 2022 and reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open. She also had fond memories of Pat Rafter Arena, having won the 2024 Brisbane International crown. The highest ranked singles player in Australia's team is Kimberly Birrell (61), ahead of Maya Joint (78) and Ajla Tomljanovic (79). 'We don't mind a challenge,' Australia's non-playing captain Sam Stosur said. 'If we're going to get called the underdogs we'll embrace that. 'There are no guarantees it'll go either way, but all you can do is do your best that you can do that day, put your best foot forward … and hopefully it goes our way. 'You can create enormous upsets in this competition, as we've seen over many years. 'It's a tough ask … but playing the World Cup of tennis shouldn't be easy. You should have to fight for it, put your best players on the court and give your best from first point to last point.' As of Wednesday afternoon, Stosur was yet to announce which two players would contest Thursday's singles matches. 'It's always a tough decision, and this time around it's no different,' she said. Kazakhstan captain Yuriy Schukin wasn't entirely comfortable with his team being regarded as the favourite. 'We know that the Australian team is very strong, very solid, so we just have to focus on our game,' Schukin said. 'We're not thinking about rankings because in team competitions, you never know what's going to happen. 'We feel confident with such a strong team, but we know our opponent has very experienced payers as well.' Rybakina was delighted to be back in Brisbane. 'Definitely it helps (having tasted success at Pat Rafter Arena), but maybe the court's changed a little bit,' she said. 'It feels a little faster than usual, (which) is better for me but you need some time to adjust.' Gold Coast-raised Birrell said the guidance of Stosur, who won the US Open in 2011, would be crucial to Australia's hopes. 'We're so lucky to have someone as experienced as Sammy leading us,' Birrell said. 'We absolutely lean on her for her advice, and even just her presence and calmness on court, to see her sitting on the bench, and to lean on her at the change of ends – it's awesome.' Australia will also meet Colombia on Saturday, with Kazakhstan to take on the South American nation on Friday.
