Retired champion Sam Stosur, one of many nation’s most interesting consultant gamers, has been introduced as the brand new captain of Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup group.
Melbourne, Australia, 11 December 2023 | Matt Trollope
Sam Stosur has taken the subsequent step in her illustrious tennis profession, transferring into the position of Australian Billie Jean King Cup group captain.
The eight-time Grand Slam champion takes the reins from Alicia Molik, who led the group for 10 years and guided Australia to finals in 2019 and 2022.
READ MORE: Departing Molik’s upbeat message for Australian tennis
ALICIA MOLIK: A proud Billie Jean King Cup legacy
As Molik shifts her focus to changing into match director on the Adelaide Worldwide, Stosur will information a group she first performed for 20 years in the past, when she debuted in singles in 2003.
Stosur stated she nonetheless remembers that tie, in opposition to Colombia in Wollongong, when Molik was her teammate and Stosur was simply 19 years outdated.
“I’ve bought years of taking part in expertise and one factor that I do know is how the ladies really feel whenever you stroll out on the court docket to play for Australia. I do know that feeling of doing it for the primary time,” Stosur advised tennis.com.au.
“You’ll be able to’t actually clarify till you’re in that scenario to know what it’s going to really feel like happening a court docket to play in Billie Jean King Cup, in comparison with a traditional match – even the primary time taking part in the Australian Open. It actually, really is a unique expertise.
“So I do know I’ve bought all these completely different areas of my very own taking part in profession that I can pull from. Having that understanding, when somebody’s actually nervous or one thing, to know, ‘oh yeah I completely get it’. It’s not going to be a shock if that occurs. You’ll be able to then try to navigate that collectively and are available out on prime, or in a great way.
“Alicia’s completed a tremendous job on this position, together with her management with the gamers. Everybody at all times needs to be a part of the group; there’s a fantastic group tradition. The 2 finals that we made … everybody’s very, very happy with that and hopefully in the future we are able to go that one step additional.
“I feel the camaraderie between the gamers and every part that she’s helped create over a very very long time is vitally essential to try to maintain emulating and actually engaged on.
“Little doubt I’ll in all probability name Alicia a lot of occasions for a bit of recommendation right here and there (laughter). However I’d love to simply try to maintain the foundations that she’s been in a position to construct.
“You knew she absolutely believed in you on the court docket. As a participant I at all times felt that and knew that was essential. Definitely that’s one factor I wish to try to go on now on this new position.”
Stosur completed her Billie Jean King Cup profession with 29 singles victories – an Australian file – plus a glittering 10-1 file in doubles.
In her final match within the competitors, she partnered with Storm Hunter to pip British duo Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls and ship Australia into the 2022 remaining in Glasgow.
It was the identical factor she did alongside Ash Barty in opposition to Belarus, a decisive doubles rubber victory in Brisbane which propelled the Aussie group into the 2019 remaining.
She performed 34 ties in complete, constructing a 39-21 win-loss total.
Stosur ended her taking part in profession just some months after that 2022 Billie Jean King Cup remaining, at this yr’s Australian Open.
The previous world No.4 and 2011 US Open singles champion stated she was “tremendous excited” to discover this subsequent part of her profession.
“For a very long time I’d clearly been very excited about Australian tennis, particularly the ladies’ aspect,” she defined.
“This yr I used to be joyful simply to be residence and never fear an excessive amount of (about my subsequent steps). Clearly I did the commentary and that aspect of issues, so I really feel like I’ve stored my foot within the door, no less than within the tennis world.
“With no query I used to be going to remain within the sport; I simply hadn’t absolutely labored out precisely how. After which this began being a risk.
“So I’m glad that it’s ended up being this position.”
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