Australia is 2 wins from ending a near-50-year drought on the Billie Jean King Cup after advancing to the semi-finals with a formidable victory over Belgium in Scotland.
Storm Sanders paved the best way for Australia’s upset with a 6-2 6-2 thrashing of 54th-ranked Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck earlier than Ajla Tomljanovic clinched the win over Elise Mertens.
Australia final gained the BJK Cup title in 1974, when it was often known as the Fed Cup, but in addition made the semi-finals final 12 months and the ultimate in 2019 in Perth, with Covid wiping out the 2020 occasion.
Great Britain scored an unimaginable boilover towards Paula Badosa-led Spain on Friday to e book a Saturday night time (9pm AEDT) date with Australia, which can fancy its probabilities of making the ultimate.
The different semi-finalists are but to be decided.
Alicia Molik’s squad entered its ultimate group B conflict figuring out a 2-1 loss to Belgium might be sufficient to progress, due to the latter’s shock defeat to Slovakia.
Australia nonetheless wanted to win a minimum of one set to advance – within the No.1 singles or doubles – after Sanders’ demolition of Van Uytvanck.
The tie regarded set to go to a deciding doubles rubber when Belgian trump card Mertens, contemporary from her WTA Finals doubles title, raced to a set and double-break lead over Tomljanovic.
But Tomljanovic reeled off 5 video games in a row to grab the second set, an effort that sealed Australia’s semi-final berth no matter what was to return.
The perception she gained from making quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in a career-best 12 months undoubtedly helped in these robust moments.
Mertens’ serve failed her – she completed with 10 double faults – however she took a medical time-out to have her proper shoulder assessed at 4-5 in set two within the first trace at what was going mistaken.
The Belgian star retired from the match quickly after whereas trailing 4-6 6-4 3-0.
“It’s always bittersweet when someone has to retire but I think we won it even after I won that (second) set, so that feels good,” Tomljanovic mentioned.
“I just fought until the end. My back was against the wall (and) I was getting ready to cheer loud in the doubles but it’s tennis – it’s never over until it’s over.
“We have the best cheering squad … and you feel that good energy, so it definitely got me over the line.”
With Australia lacking retired world No.1 Ash Barty and the injured Daria Saville, Molik ignored the rankings to put in Sanders because the No.2 singles participant this week behind Tomljanovic.
The West Australian, ranked 237 after beforehand being as excessive as No.119, responded by profitable each her singles matches to be a key purpose for her nation’s success thus far.
She is getting married this month on the finish of her greatest season on court docket, together with profitable the US Open blended doubles title with John Peers as she broke into the highest 10 in that type of the sport.
It is the second-straight 12 months Sanders saved her greatest for Belgium within the workforce competitors.
She shocked Mertens in three units because the interim No.1 participant a 12 months in the past, with out Barty and last-minute withdrawal Tomljanovic on that event.
“I feel like I have always believed that I can perform at this level – not just for my country, but week in, week out at WTA events,” Sanders mentioned.
“But obviously representing your country is a whole other level … I absolutely love playing for Australia. For me, it’s the biggest honour.
“The thing I want to do the most in my tennis career would be to win the Billie Jean King Cup for my country.”
Molik selected to accomplice Sanders with Sam Stosur within the doubles, changing top-20 doubles participant Ellen Perez after dropping that rubber towards Slovakia.
The Australian mixture beat Kirsten Flipkens and Ysaline Bonaventure 6-4 6-3 to finish a clear sweep.
