Stosur leads Australia into the World Group

Australia’s Fed Cup team is back in the World Group for the first time since 2004 with a convincing 5-0 win over Ukraine in Kharkov.

Day two saw Samantha Stosur give Australia an undefeatable lead in the Fed Cup World Group playoff defeating Lyudmyla Kichenok, 7-6(4) 6-3.

Alicia Molik then took to the court for the first time in the tie and won a close battle against the Ukraine’s No.2 player, Mariya Koryttseva, 2-6 6-2 7-5.

In the final rubber on day two, Anzac Day, doubles specialist Rennae Stubbs and Anastasia Rodionova defeated twin sister’s Lyudmyla and Nadiya Kichenok, 6-2 6-7(2) 6-1 and sealed a clean sweep of the Word Group playoff tie.

Following the match Stosur said this is what we have been working towards.

“I am very excited. We have been saying for the last couple of years that we have been wanting to get back to the World Group and I think we have proved to ourselves that we deserve to be there and with this win, this weekend, it is just very exciting and I am looking forward to next year,” Stosur said.

Molik also sees the potential of the Australian Fed Cup team.

“We have one player in the top ten and a doubles team that is, if they played week in and week out, one of the best doubles teams in the whole world. I still think they are even though they don’t partner each other during the year.

“Add to this Anastasia (Rodionova) and I think when I am on form I can be dangerous and let’s not forget other players likes of Casey Dellacqua.”

“Sam leads the top but below that we have some players that can be dangerous,” Molik said.

Australian Fed Cup Captain David Taylor said all the hard work and dedication of the team has paid off.

“The team is always making big efforts to come to Fed Cup and in women’s tennis they have a big schedules, Olympics and many WTA tournaments, but always our team makes themselves available and Tennis Australia are very grateful for that,” Taylor said.

“Fed Cup is so high in their priority and now we have the reward for them making Fed Cup a priority.”

“I am very, very proud of all the girls and the job they have been able to do here.”

Looking forward Taylor said “the only guarantee in playing in the top group is that you are going to play great nations every match.”

“The girls in Australia have worked very hard and it has been a long road to get back to the top eight and I think they are really looking forward to the challenge. It is a really exciting time for Australia’s women’s tennis.”

Yesterday saw Melbourne-based Rodionova make a dream debut at the Palace of Sports Lokomotiv defeating Bondarenko, 0-6 6-3 7-5.

Stosur then took the team to a 2-0 lead staging a 12 game straight come back to win 6-3 6-0 over Koryttseva.

Australia will now compete in the World Group in February next year following the Australian Open.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!