Australia takes down Belarus to charge into Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals
There’s no Ash Barty but that hasn’t stopped the Australian team claiming another huge scalp at the World Cup of women’s tennis.
Australia has charged into the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup – the World Cup of women’s tennis – for just the third time this century and Ajla Tomljanovic says the job is not done.
Playing without world No.1 Ash Barty, surprise packet Storm Sanders has lifted her game to a new level, and after her second singles triumph of the week in Prague, outclassing Yuliya Hatouka 6-3 6-3 to open in Thursday‘s tie against Belarus, Tomljanovic earned a 4-6 6-2 6-3 comeback win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich to give Australia an unassailable lead in the group tie.
The Aussies lost the doubles but were still able to celebrating an overall 2-1 victory and the prospect of a last-four showdown on Friday against the winners of the Switzerland-Czech Republic tie.
“I don’t think it really sinks in that we’re in the semis because it’s a different format this year,” said Tomljanovic, who missed the win over Belgium earlier this week through illness.
“I think we’re all happy to be in the semis but no one feels overly happy because we don’t think the job is done yet.”
The world No.43 was ranked 45 places higher than her opponent but played with her thigh heavily strapped, and Australia‘s No.2 had to dig deep after her first set capitulation.
“There‘s no greater feeling,” the 28-year-old smiled.
“The fact that I got a point makes me unbelievably happy. I just feel like I came here to help the team and ended up doing that, so that makes me happy.”
Australia’s most recent semi-finals appearances at the Billie Jean King Cup, when it was known as the Fed Cup, were in 1992, 1993, 2014 and 2019.
Sanders defied her ranking of No.131 to score a huge three-set upset victory over Belgium’s world No.18 Elise Mertens, then outgunned Hatouka, the world No.192 making her Cup debut.
“I was injured in 2018 with a shoulder injury and, honestly, I never thought I’d be playing singles for Australia in these finals,” Sanders explained afterwards.
“For me to come out and deliver under pressure, it’s a great feeling.
“I played a really solid match. I was a little bit tired from my two matches on Tuesday, but I came out and just fought really hard.
“To have two wins as well – honestly it’s a dream come true and I’m just really, really proud to be able to step out on court.”
Men of honour – Sinner and Cahill face an uncertain future, no?
Jannik Sinner and his Australian supercoach Darren Cahill, revered globally but under-appreciated locally, were the epitome of gracious victors. But a CAS hearing in April looms.
‘Among most educated’: Tiley rejects Bogan Slam tag
There was no shortage of drama at the AO. TA boss Craig Tiley addresses Alexander Zverev’s heckler, overloaded, raucous crowds and will we see the GOAT of Melbourne Park return?