Australia facing tough task against Kazakhstan in Billie Jean King Cup qualifier

Kazakhstan will be tough to beat in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in Brisbane, but Australia is ready to cause an upset.

Australia will happily “embrace” the underdog tag in Thursday’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifying battle against Kazakhstan in Brisbane.

The Australians’ hopes of topping their three-team group and reaching the Cup finals could very hinge on their best-of-three tie – which consists of two singles matches and one doubles contest – against the Kazakhstanis at Pat Rafter Arena.

Of the three Group D nations, that also include Colombia, Kazakhstan has the two highest placed singles players – Elena Rybakina (10) and Yulia Putintseva (23).– in the world rankings.

Rybakina was the Wimbledon champion in 2022 and reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open. She also had fond memories of Pat Rafter Arena, having won the 2024 Brisbane International crown.

The highest ranked singles player in Australia’s team is Kimberly Birrell (61), ahead of Maya Joint (78) and Ajla Tomljanovic (79).

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina will be hard to beat at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in Brisbane. Picture: Al Bello / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

“We don’t mind a challenge,” Australia’s non-playing captain Sam Stosur said.

“If we’re going to get called the underdogs we’ll embrace that.

“There are no guarantees it’ll go either way, but all you can do is do your best that you can do that day, put your best foot forward … and hopefully it goes our way.

“You can create enormous upsets in this competition, as we’ve seen over many years.

“It’s a tough ask … but playing the World Cup of tennis shouldn’t be easy. You should have to fight for it, put your best players on the court and give your best from first point to last point.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Stosur was yet to announce which two players would contest Thursday’s singles matches.

“It’s always a tough decision, and this time around it’s no different,” she said.

Kazakhstan captain Yuriy Schukin wasn’t entirely comfortable with his team being regarded as the favourite.

“We know that the Australian team is very strong, very solid, so we just have to focus on our game,” Schukin said.

“We’re not thinking about rankings because in team competitions, you never know what’s going to happen.

“We feel confident with such a strong team, but we know our opponent has very experienced payers as well.”

Australia’s captain Sam Stosur (left) and Kimberly Birrell take a break during a practice session ahead of Billie Jean King Cup qualifier at Pat Rafter Arena. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Rybakina was delighted to be back in Brisbane.

“Definitely it helps (having tasted success at Pat Rafter Arena), but maybe the court’s changed a little bit,” she said.

“It feels a little faster than usual, (which) is better for me but you need some time to adjust.”

Gold Coast-raised Birrell said the guidance of Stosur, who won the US Open in 2011, would be crucial to Australia’s hopes.

“We’re so lucky to have someone as experienced as Sammy leading us,” Birrell said.

“We absolutely lean on her for her advice, and even just her presence and calmness on court, to see her sitting on the bench, and to lean on her at the change of ends – it’s awesome.”

Australia will also meet Colombia on Saturday, with Kazakhstan to take on the South American nation on Friday.