Hole in Aussie cup bid
Rodionova no certainty
Australia will host a Billie Jean King Cup tie for the first time in five years when Mexico visits Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena in April to meet a home team captained by Sam Stosur.
The winner of the tie will qualify for November’s 12team finals of the competition – formerly known as the Fed Cup – in Spain.
“We’re excited to play a Billie Jean King Cup tie on home soil, and we can’t wait to come back to Brisbane,” said 2011 US Open winner Stosur, who will captain a Billie Jean King Cup Australian team for the first time in the April 12-13 tie.
“This is an important tie for both teams to advance to the finals. Our elite Australian women had stellar performances in 2023 and I’ll be trying to get the most out of our players to show the world what we’re made of.
“Being a part of the Australian team has always been a highlight for me as a player and I can’t wait to share my experiences with the team as captain.”
Queenslander
Stosur, who has replaced Alicia Molik as captain, will pick her team next month for the first Billie Jean King Cup tie held in Australia since the 2019 final won 3-2 by France in Perth.
Australia’s highest-ranked female player is world No.99 Arina Rodionova, but the Russia-born 34-year-old isn’t a certainty to play in Brisbane in April due to her feud with Tennis Australia officials, who didn’t give her a wildcard entry into last month’s Australian Open.
Rodionova was forced to contest the qualifiers and failed to make the main draw.
“The only regrets I have from today is just I gave Tennis Australia something to celebrate,” Rodionova said after losing 6-3, 6-4 in the qualifiers to France’s Leolia Jeanjean.
“I think they are very pleased with my result today and that’s what makes me upset.
“I had a great year. I’ve done everything I possibly could to deserve (a wildcard).
“They just don’t like me simply.”