British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

the addict · Tennis legend

RE: Week 14 - 2026 Billie Jean King Cup - Qualifiers - Melbourne, Australia

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Summary from the Aussies:

Sam Stosur plays it far too safe, Melbourne brings bad luck, should have picked Alja, Aussie girls always bottle it when playing as favourites, Kim should never be picked again, I'd bought tickets for the weekend and was scared I'd only get Oz's winning doubles match and a dead rubber - now I'd have given anything for that....

net net: it's a disaster, worst disaster for 15 years.....

wolf · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:
Match 1: Mika Stojsavljevic WR 275 defeated Talia Gibson (AUS) WR 56 by 7-6(4) 7-5

Match 2: Harriet Dart WR 173 defeated Kimberley Birrell (AUS) WR 80 by 4-6 6-3 6-3

Match 3: Jodie Burrage & Harriet Dart CR 329 (200+129) defeated Storm Hunter & Ellen Perez (AUS/AUS) CR 37 (17+20) by 6-3 6-4

Match 4: Emerson Jones (AUS) WR 134 defeated Katie Swan WR 261 by 7-5 6-3

Match 5: Kimberley Birrell (AUS) WR 80 vs Mika Stojsavljevic WR 275 - not played

Aus 1 - GB 3 (but really 0-3 biggrin )

Babfive · Satellite level

Congratulations to the whole GB team for a super win. biggrin

Var · Futures level

Oh well done to Jodie and Harriet to bring in the doubles! Will be a massive confidence boost to Harriet, Jodie and of course Mika! Just a shame Katie S couldnt get a win even if it wasnt required for the victory.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Great result. Congrats to whole team, players, coaches and support. Good job.

Kennykoalabear · Lower Club Player

Amazing result! I really wasnt expecting much from the team in Australia and theyve done so well. It does make Annes team selection possibly quite difficult for the finals, depending on who puts themselves forward to play.

Jan · Hall of fame

Brilliant!! Well done team

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

This was such a pleasant surprise. In the past we have lost to countries we expected to beat easily .Was not expecting too much with our highest ranked players not available.Our players really rose to the occasion. Lets hope it will inspire our players for the rest of the season,

DF · Tennis legend

Julia Carrot wrote:
Great result. Congrats to whole team, players, coaches and support. Good job.

smile

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Reading on tennis forum that Birrell's stats in the match with Harriet were 0 aces and 15 double faults. That's roughly 4 games to the opposition , in this case us.

JonH · Tennis legend

Thinking about the fact that weve reached the last two semis of this cup and now back to the finals with a second string team, third string even, Anne deserves a decent amount of credit with her wider coaching staff for helping achieve that. Pinching above our weight?

Var · Futures level

JonH wrote:
Thinking about the fact that weve reached the last two semis of this cup and now back to the finals with a second string team, third string even, Anne deserves a decent amount of credit with her wider coaching staff for helping achieve that. Pinching above our weight?

I agree JonH, Anne is doing a sterling job to date. Maybe we are a bit like the Italians who seem to often punch above their weight in tennis.if not in football!

christ · Challenger qualifying

I've a sneaking suspicion that I know where my April PoM vote is going.

Var · Futures level

christ wrote:
I've a sneaking suspicion that I know where my April PoM vote is going.

Me too!