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Ajla Tomljanovic has been included in Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup workforce regardless of solely enjoying two matches after getting back from 9 months out with a knee harm.
The previous world No.32, presently competing with a protected rating having dropped to 430th within the rankings on account of her lengthy absence, was a part of the workforce that reached the ultimate final yr.
She returned to motion on the US Open and beat Panna Udvardy within the opening spherical, however the three-setter left her drained and he or she withdrew from a second spherical assembly with Elena Rybakina on account of fatigue. Coming into the Guadalajara Open final month on a wildcard she misplaced to Taylor Townsend, then ranked 101, in straight units.
Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez additionally return from the quintet crushed by Switzerland in Glasgow, however Priscilla Hon and the now-retired Sam Stosur have been changed by Kimberley Birrell and Daria Saville.
Hunter, and probably Perez, can be hot-footing it from the WTA Finals in Mexico. Hunter has certified for the doubles with Belgian accomplice Elise Mertens whereas Perez is on the cusp of doing so with American Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
As crushed finalists Australia mechanically certified for this yr’s occasion, to be performed in Seville, Spain, November 7-12.
They’re paired with Kazakhstan and Slovenia within the 12-team finals.
Alicia Molik’s workforce launch the occasion on centre courtroom within the Estadio de la Cartuja in opposition to Slovenia on November 7 however the important thing match is prone to be in opposition to Kazakhstan who’ve Russian-born duo Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva of their workforce.
World No.5 Rybakina gained Wimbledon 2022 and reached the ultimate of this yr’s Australian Open whereas Putintseva is ranked 68th on the earth. Birrell is Australia’s highest-ranked participant at 102.
That is the most important workforce competitors in girls’s tennis nevertheless it begins solely two days after the tip of the WTA Finals in Cancun, which can function the highest eight singles gamers on the tour and high eight doubles pairings.
The singles embrace US Open champion Coco Gauff, fellow American Jessica Pegula, and world No.2 Iga Swiatek of Poland. All three have been omitted from their international locations’ Billie Jean Cup groups.
Certainly, with Belarus (Aryna Sabalenka), Greece (Maria Sakkari) and Tunisia (Ons Jabeur) not qualifying Rybakina is the one participant within the high seven enjoying within the BJK Cup.
Swiatek additionally skipped final yr’s competitors and mentioned then that the “state of affairs isn’t secure for our well being” given the timing and distance.
AUSTRALIAN BILLIE JEAN KING CUP TEAM
Kimberly Birrell, Storm Hunter, Daria Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic, Ellen Perez.
Captain: Alicia Molik
With AP
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