Confidence high for first Cup in 50 years
AUSTRALIA captain Alicia Monk said a first Billie Jean King Cup since 1974 was “for the taking” after seeing off host Great Britain in a nail-biting finish to reach the final against Switzerland overnight.
The Brits had defied the odds with a whitewash of Spain to reach the last four in Glasgow.
But Australia’s experience paid off as the final doubles clash went to a champions tiebreak won by Storm Sanders and Sam Stosur.
The seven-time winner missed out on the title in 2019, when it lost in front of a home crowd to France.
“We’ve got the team to get through,” Monk said. “We’re still making up for the final we lost a couple of years ago, we know what that feels like. But we’re optimistic, we’re a team, we’ve got great support, so it’s ours for the taking.”
Sanders dampened the enthusiasm of the Glasgow crowd as she saw off Heather Watson 6-4 7-6 (7/3) to take the opening rubber.
But Harriet Dart upset world No.33 Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 (7/3) 6-2.
Doubles duo Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls have been the revelation of the week, but they were just unable to conjure a third victory, losing out 7-6 (7/1) 6-7 (5/7), 10-6.
“God we were close,” British captain Anne Keothavong said. “I’m just gutted for everyone right now, but also I think we have to try and keep things in perspective. What a fantastic week it really has been for the team.”
Switzerland is aiming to go one better than losing last year’s final to Russia as the 11time champion Czechs were humbled.
Viktorija Golubic saw off Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-4 before Belinda Bencic proved too good for Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).