Led by retiring staff captain Alicia Molik, there’s each ardour and objective as Australia launches its 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals marketing campaign in opposition to Slovenia.
Seville, Spain, 7 November 2023 | Vivienne Christie
There’s already a lot to have a good time in every week of highs for Australian girls’s tennis.
Within the newest launch of the WTA rankings, Storm Hunter sits proudly at doubles world No.1 after a career-best season alongside Belgian accomplice Elise Mertens.
Fellow Australian Ellen Perez, in the meantime, punctuated her career-best season with a runner-up efficiency in doubles on the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.
One more excessive beckons at this week’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, Spain.
Led by Alicia Molik in her closing project because the nation’s Billie Jean King Cup Captain, Australia goals to enhance on final 12 months’s runner-up efficiency to Switzerland.
“We’re able to go,” Molik instructed tennis.com.au of the Australian staff, which incorporates Kimberly Birrell, Daria Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic, Hunter and Perez, with Olivia Gadecki additionally travelling with the group.
“We arrived (final) Wednesday, so we’ve had sufficient observe time … we’ve had an unbelievable week.”
> READ: Storm Hunter to finsih season as world No.1 in doubles
Certainly, there’s a powerful sense of objective and camaraderie because the second-ranked Australian staff targets an eighth title on this planet staff competitors.
There’s additionally confidence gained from contesting two finals (together with in opposition to France in 2019) up to now three editions of the occasion.
“I believe we at all times convey the very best out in ourselves right here at this staff’s competitors, as a result of everybody loves it a lot,” mentioned Molik.
“We’ve punched above our weight for a few years. I really feel like this one’s no totally different.”
Spirits are removed from diminished by latest damage interruptions for a number of staff members.
“I don’t assume you’ll be able to have a look at our interrupted 12 months of athletes and assume our possibilities aren’t pretty much as good – I believe they’re as robust,” Molik identified.
“I say that as a result of additionally the format – the 2 singles and the one doubles. I believe we’ve got the very best doubles staff right here in Ellen and Storm. And I simply have an actual sense of perception within the prime tennis that Dasha and Ajla and Kim can play at their greatest.”
“And you already know, personally I felt (after reaching) a few finals I wish to go one higher. It’s so exhausting after all dropping within the closing, however you already know, it builds you up stronger. It reminds you of how a lot this does imply to everybody.”
> READ: Kimberly Birrell – “It’s such a privilege and honour to characterize Australia”
Molik takes an analogous view on Hunter and Perez’s unavoidably late arrival in Spain, after the WTA Finals schedule was severely disrupted by rain in Mexico.
Hunter, a doubles semifinalist on the season-ending event, is because of arrive in Seville at the moment whereas Perez contested the rain-delayed doubles closing alongside Nicole Melichar-Martinez on Monday.
“I’d quite have Storm and Ellen profitable there and us coping with what we are able to right here,” mentioned Molik. “As a result of Ellen and Storm have each had phenomenal years and Storm ending No.1 – it simply couldn’t occur to somebody who works tougher.
“She’s simply been phenomenal with how she’s been chasing this, the willpower and work ethic and all the pieces (are) simply unbelievable. I’m simply so stoked for her.”
> READ: Ellen Perez finishes runner-up at 2023 WTA Finals
The Australian captain is equally delighted with the resilience displayed by Tomljanovic, Saville and Birrell, who’ve every overcome prolonged damage challenges to take their place within the Australian staff.
“It’s superb. This can be a spotlight for all of them, the BJK Cup,” mentioned Molik, noting that Saville labored exhausting to compete usually all through 2023, whereas a persistent Tomljanovic gained vital match play in Guadalajara, Mexico, after a knee damage severely undermined her season.
“She’s at all times had this in her sights to be nicely sufficient to play the BJK Cup (and) she’s achieved what she may have achieved within the lead-up and to be prepared for this,” mentioned Molik.
“It means a lot to all of them and I’m particularly happy with Kim, only in the near past reaching the highest 100. It’s superb, as a participant once you hit that quantity, it’s type of like ‘okay. I’m right here’ … the remaining is onwards and upwards.”
These gamers will take that constructive momentum into this week’s first Billie Jean King Cup tie in opposition to Slovenia on Tuesday. Australia additionally faces Kazakhstan within the group stage of the world staff competitors.
Molik expects Tamara Zidansek (at present ranked world No.98) and Kaja Yuvan (No.102) to guide Slovenia’s singles cost, with the Australian line-up to be introduced forward of the 10am Spain (8pm AEDT) start-time.
“I’m feeling actually assured,” mentioned Molik, who can also be feeling solely constructive feelings as she completes a 10-year tenure as Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, after asserting her retirement from the position in September.
“I’ve had a lot success on this position, with the staff and thanks to the staff, the workers and the gamers,” she commented. “However I really feel like I’ve given my greatest they usually’ve introduced out the very best in me as nicely.”
> READ: Alicia Molik – a proud Billie Jean King Cup legacy
You may watch Australia v Slovenia on the Billie Jean King Finals on 9Life from 8pm and 9Gem at 9.10pm.
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