Ash Barty setting sights on Fed Cup, Rio Olympics selection

SHE has just returned from a stint in the WBBL but Ash Barty has expressed her interest in playing Fed Cup. And the young code-hopper is eyeing an even bigger prize.

AUSTRALIAN Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik says Ash Barty is in the selection mix for next month’s clash with the United States in Brisbane, less than three months after her return to tennis.

Molik also said Daria Gavrilova should cleared by the International Tennis Federation at a meeting late this month to make her debut at Pat Rafter Arena on April 16-17 after it ruled in January that her Australian citizenship did not satisfy revised qualification standards.

Barty expressed to Molik her interest in playing Fed Cup and Olympic Games tennis for Australia when she returned to the sport last month from a summer of cricket.

Ash Barty has set her sights on making Rio. Picture: Darren England.

The selection of Barty against the Americans on a temporary claycourt would reunite her at Fed Cup level with Casey Dellacqua, with whom she made three Grand Slam finals in 2014.

Dellacqua and Barty made the final in their first tournament together this year at the ITF Port Pirie Futures tournament late last month.

Barty is putting time into training in Melbourne this week after three ITF Futures doubles tournaments and her father Robert said she would play at the ITF Canberra tournament next week.

“She was talking to me more about the Olympics (in August), but I wouldn’t rule any of our players out for the tie in Brisbane,’’ Molik said.

“You want players to be at their full strength and Ash would be the first to admit she wishes she had a few more months of training under the belt for tennis.

“But Ash has shown what she can do on the doubles court, winning her first tournament back (at the ITF Perth last month with Jess Moore). It’s a decision we will make in a couple of weeks’ time to select our best prospects, but she will be in the mix.’’

Ash Barty in action for the Brisbane Heat during the WBBL. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Last month, Stosur won two singles rubbers and teamed with Dellacqua in the doubles as Australia beat Slovakia.

The team of four was rounded out by Arina Rodionova, ranked No.247, and Gold Coast 17-year-old Kim Birrell (278th). Both lost singles matches to Slovakian opponents.

ITF spokesman Nick Imison said Serena and Venus Williams had both already qualified for the Rio Games, meaning there is no Games imperative for either to come to Brisbane. Fed Cup representation over a four-year period qualifies tennis players for the Olympics.

Gavrilova, the world No.33, gained her Australian citizenship in December but the ITF barred her under new eligibility rules from making her debut for Australia in a tie last month in Slovakia.

“She’s lived in Melbourne for a number of years and the Fed Cup is a competition which we wish to bolster its stocks internationally - I’d have thought the ITF would have wanted Daria to play Fed Cup,’’ Molik said.

The US has until an April 6 deadline to name a team of four, with the Williams sisters to decide if they want a trip to Australia added to a schedule in which they have already added a draining campaign at the Rio Olympics.

“Unfortunately for America, the nature of the competition is that they have to travel to Australia, just as we have to travel a long way so often when we play away ties,’’ Molik said.

“If they aren’t playing, the Americans have great depth. The ideal for us is to play the Americans at full strength.’’

Tickets to the tie will go on sale to the general public on Friday(subs:18 March) and categories for one day’s play include $25 for adults, $5 for children and $50 for a family ticket.

Originally published as Ash Barty setting sights on Fed Cup, Rio Olympics selection