Maroons lead Fed Cup tilt

GOLD Coaster Sam Stosur couldn’t resist the wisecrack directed at teammate Daria Gavrilova.

“It’s almost a Queensland team. I’m sure Dasha (Gavrilova) wishes she was from Queensland, not that she’d admit it,’’ Stosur joked.

The selection of Stosur, world No.9 Ash Barty and 20year-old Priscilla Hon means there are three Queenslanders in the four-woman Australian Fed Cup team playing a semifinal at Pat Rafter Arena this weekend.

“Queensland has always been one of the states with more depth typically in tennis, even through juniors,” Stosur said. “It’s a perfect environment in which to train and grow your sporting interests.’’

Stosur’s return to the Fed Cup competition, in which no Australian has won more than her 29 singles matches, gives her a second chance to win a semi-final, having lost in a Brisbane tie against Germany in 2014.

“I don’t think about that (record) a lot, but when you mention that record, it’s something to be really proud of, to have represented my country over many years,’’ she said.

“It will be great to get out there over the Easter weekend and add to it (the tally of 29 wins).’’

Hon, 20, said she had taken Gavrilova fishing and to the Gold Coast earlier this week.

“We’ll take her as a Queenslander as well,’’ she said. “We didn’t catch anything fishing. I was teaching her how to cast (the line) and she didn’t get it.’’

Barty, from Ipswich, and Hon, from Rochedale, both had to find enough tickets to get family and friends into the two-day tie.