Storm Sanders and Samantha Stosur, parts of the duo from Australia, brought their team back to the final of Billie Jean King Cup after winning the decisive doubles match against British ALicia Barnett and Olivia Nichollswho remained at the goal gates.
The Australian team captain Alicia Molik will lose the title, which they have not won since 1974, against Switzerland or the Czech Republic, protagonists of another semifinal hosting the Glasgow Emirates Arena.
The bidding between Australia and Great Britain, Spain’s executioner after their shock 3-0 win in the tie on Thursday, was tight until the final point of a dramatic match was decided in three sets, in the supertiebreak’ after two hours and ten minutes of the match (7-6(1), 6-7(5) and 10-6).
Doubles got all its glory and highest relevance after each team won an individual. The session began with the victory of Sanders, who was established as the hero of the semifinal. Despite the level that her ranking points to, 237 in the WTA, she was able to dominate the British, who were encouraged by the public, and found one hundred places above the women’s classification.
They won 6-4, 7-6(3) after two hours and six minutes. It was the second win for the Oceanic against the European after the meeting they shared in Brisbane two seasons ago.
Australia were one point away from their goal before their main point of reference, their number one player, swung into action. Alja Tomljanovic. Of Croatian origin, born in Zagreb, the 29-year-old tennis player is 33rd in the women’s ranking with four victories in her career.
But harriet dart He showed that he is a tennis player made for this competition. In his appearance against Spain on the last day of the group stage, the British flew and in two sets (7-6(3) and 6-2), he left his rival with no options after one hour and 51 minutes of meeting
Until this appointment in Glasgow, Tomljanovic had always beaten the British. He did it in Nottingham three years ago and most recently, in 2022 in Toronto.
Dart gave life to the local team that leveled the rivalry and moved closer to the fifth final in its history, the first since 1981 for a team that had never won this competition.
The doubles decided everything. There were no surprises this time and Australia imposed its composure and mastery against a seemingly minor opponent that pushed the winners to the limit.
Australia reached its 19th Billie Jean King Cup final against either Switzerland or the Czech Republic.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
