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Slovenia stuns 2022 finalists Australia within the opening tie of the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville, Spain.
Seville, Spain, 7 November 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Outgoing captain Alicia Molik believes her Australian group can’t be discounted, regardless of dropping their opening group tie on the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Spain.
“It’s a large problem for us, however something is feasible,” an upbeat Molik stated following Australia’s 1-2 loss to Slovenia on the opening day of the competitors.
Slovenia swept each singles rubbers to make a dream finals debut within the prestigious group competitors.
World No.104 Kaja Juvan posted a 6-4 6-1 victory towards Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic within the opening singles rubber, earlier than world No.100 Tamara Zidansek sealed victory for Slovenia with a 6-1 6-4 overcome Daria Saville.
Molik defended the group’s determination to not play Kimberly Birrell, who’s presently Australia’s top-ranked singles participant.
“It was a extremely troublesome determination, as a result of everybody’s stage was extremely excessive between Kim, Ajla and Sprint,” Molik stated.
“However generally you do must depend on expertise.”
Birrell as an alternative teamed with new world No.1 Storm Hunter in doubles, with the first-time pairing edging out a 7-5 6-7(2) [10-5] victory towards Slovenian duo Veronika Erjavec and Ela Nala Milic.
“To come back out and play the doubles, despite the fact that we misplaced the tie, it’s nonetheless actually necessary to attempt to get a win on the board,” Hunter stated.
“Kimbo and myself, we did a extremely good job simply hanging in powerful and ended up getting the win, which was superior.”
Remarkably, Hunter’s flight from Cancun (the place she was competing on the WTA Finals) solely arrived in Seville two hours earlier than the tie commenced.
“(My) luggage didn’t arrive, in order that made it a bit tough, however I had some racquets on me and I used to be ready to play,” Hunter stated.
“I had my outfit, my footwear, and mentally I used to be able to go if our group wanted that.
“It was clearly a fast turnaround, however for me, representing my nation is the best honour and truthfully essentially the most superb factor I can ever do with my tennis profession. I need to be prepared and ready every time doable.”
The Australian group performs their remaining round-robin match on Thursday towards a Kazakhstan line-up spearheaded by world No.4 Elena Rybakina.
“It’s a do-or-die one, isn’t it? It’s all or nothing,” Molik stated.
“Typically it’s good really when you have to win, as a result of there isn’t any different choice. You actually are compelled right into a nook.”
The nation that finishes atop of Group B will advance to the knockout semifinals later within the week.
Billie Jean King Cup 2023 Finals
SLOVENIA d AUSTRALIA 2-1
Kaja Juvan (SLO) d Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-4 6-1
Tamara Zidansek (SLO) d Daria Saville (AUS) 6-1 6-4
Kimberly Birrell/Storm Hunter (AUS) d Veronika Erjavec/Ela Nala Milic (SLO) 7-5 6-7(2) [10-5]
Discover your strategy to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
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