Whereas Storm Hunter maintains an ideal file on the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Closing, Australia is out of competition for general victory this 12 months.
9 November 2023 | AAP / Tennis Australia
Australia have been knocked out of the Billie Jean King Cup and can say farewell to captain Alicia Molik regardless of one remaining, stirring rescue operation by the indefatigable Storm Hunter.
Molik’s remaining act after a distinguished decade of management was to listen to from the quantity crunchers and be taught that Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan – courtesy of two extra Hunter wins – was, mathematically, not fairly sufficient to maintain their hopes alive.
No-one felt extra emotional than unbeaten Hunter, after her heroic jetlag-busting efforts with three wins since she made the transatlantic sprint from Mexico because the newly-minted world No.1 doubles participant to steer the aspect.
Nonetheless believing at that time there would possibly nonetheless be a slim probability of qualification, Hunter stated: “It’s simply been a pleasure enjoying underneath Mol’ if that is her final tie. I’m going to get emotional now… ”
Molik, by her aspect, comforted her, saying: “You don’t must, Stormy, champion. It’s been wonderful.”
Welling up, Hunter continued: “Yeah, simply needed to make her proud and everybody else on the group proud.”
To which there was just one reply. “You do. You do. On a regular basis,” Molik assured her.
> READ: Storm Hunter displays on “loopy” journey to world No.1
She was proper. Hunter is a star, her heroics solely mirroring her outstanding efficiency when main the group to the ultimate in Glasgow final 12 months.
First, she beat Anna Danilina 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 within the singles after which teamed up with Ellen Perez to ship the essential 6-1 4-6 [10-5] win over Danilina and Yulia Putintseva within the decisive doubles.
Molik had overhauled her singles line-up to advertise world No.155 Hunter and the nation’s No.1 Kim Birrell after veteran campaigners Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic suffered straight-set defeats in Australia’s opening-day 2-1 loss to Slovenia.
But the transfer proved solely partially profitable when Birrell couldn’t overcome a woefully nervy first set, through which she served 5 double faults, en path to shedding to battle-hardened Putintseva 6-0 7-5.
> READ: Alicia Molik’s proud Billie Jean King Cup legacy
For Molik, who accomplished her remaining Billie Jean King Cup task in Seville, there have been nonetheless many positives to take from her 10-year reign as captain of the group.
“I’m fairly fortunate, fairly lucky to have skilled a couple of finals during the last couple of years. Ladies’s tennis in Australia has been, from a group’s perspective, in a extremely sturdy place,” stated Molik, recalling Australia’s runner-up efficiency to France in 2019 and Switzerland in 2022.
There are additionally sturdy reminiscences from representing the nation as a participant, through which she fashioned enduring bonds with teammates together with Rennae Stubbs, Nicole Pratt, Casey Dellacqua and Sam Stosur.
“My reminiscences aren’t simply as a captain; they’re as a participant. Lots of these relationships in Fed Cup on the time helped type who I used to be as a participant. They’re at all times the friendships that I relied on by way of the tour years,” Molik added.
“I really feel like that’s what the gamers have now amongst one another, however that’s one thing that they’ve created, an actual credit score to themselves. I’m not right here with group success with out the broader group and our group of employees. You recognize, they provide every part for the gamers.
“It’s an actual privilege to be concerned with this group of girls.”
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