Australia have crashed out of the Billie Jean King Cup with a painful quarterfinal loss to Slovakia in Malaga.
An impressed Viktória Hrunčáková defied her lowly rating to defeat Kim Birrell in a tense three-setter earlier than in-form Rebecca Šramková sealed victory with a assured win over injured veteran Ajla Tomljanović.
Australia had been chasing a fourth semifinal look in 5 years, and a primary title in half a century within the prestigious groups’ occasion previously generally known as Fed Cup.
As a substitute, Sam Stosur’s first 12 months as captain led to disappointment at Marten Carpena Enviornment because the Slovakian underdogs continued their dream week in Spain.
Stosur pulled considerably of a range shock in calling up Birrell forward of Olivia Gadecki for the opening singles rubber.
Whereas each choices had made maiden WTA Tour finals in latest instances, Gadecki was higher-ranked after breaking into the world’s high 100 for the primary time following a cost to the Guadalajara Open title decider in September.
Birrell, although, was additionally using excessive after making final month’s Japan Open ultimate and entered Sunday night time’s match well-fancied to account for the 241st-ranked ranked Hrunčáková.
Alas, the 26-year-old world quantity 115 went down 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in a rollercoaster two-hour, 31-minute battle to pile the strain on the resurgent Tomljanović.
Again as Australian primary after touchdown a second profession title in Hong Kong following greater than a 12 months out with a knee damage, Tomljanović’s return to the competitors led to despair.
The 31-year-old wanted a medical time-out within the first set for an additional left knee situation and by no means recovered, happening 6-1 6-2 in only an hour.
Šramková had upset world quantity 11 Danielle Collins, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up, in Slovakia’s shock win over the USA on Friday to make the quarter-finals.
Now the 28-year-old looms as pivotal to Slovakia’s probabilities of persevering with their giant-killing run in opposition to both defending champions Canada or Nice Britain within the semifinals.
AAP
