Australia 4-0 Mexico: 'My stomach was doing weird things' - Preston sends Aussies to 2024 Finals
13/04/2024 04:23
Australia are the first of eight nations from the Qualifiers to book their place at November's Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals in Seville after a resounding 4-0 victory over Mexico in Brisbane.
By Ross McLean
Australia reached the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals after rookie Taylah Preston defeated Marcela Zacarias to propel her nation into an unassailable lead in their Qualifier with Mexico.
On her Billie Jean King Cup debut, Perth teenager Preston prevailed 6-1 6-1 at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane to build on the singles victories of Arina Rodionova and Daria Saville on day one of the tie.
Further gloss was then added to the scoreline by Saville and Ellen Perez as they joined forces to dispatch Mexican duo Jessica Hinojosa Gomes and Maria Fernanda Navarro 6-3 6-1 in the doubles.
Preston's win was a significant moment for the 18-year-old, who revealed she could not stop smiling after finding out she had been selected in the Australia team for their Qualifier with Mexico.
“It was very special to wear the green and gold and win the tie for Australia,” said Preston, who made her Grand Slam debut at January’s Australian Open. “Hopefully it is not the last time and I get to wear it.
“I was more nervous this morning than I usually am as I am playing for far more than just myself in these ties – I am playing for my team and my country – and I don’t want to let the team down. There were a lot of ‘what ifs’ going on.
“But the girls were super-supportive, saying ‘you’ll be fine’ and ‘you deserve this’, so that was comforting and really nice. Walking on the court my stomach was doing weird things, but after a couple of games I loosened up.”
Delight for the debutant 🤩
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 13, 2024
Taylah Preston seals the tie for Australia on debut in her first #BJKCup 👏@TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/4btI4k9oOf
Preston's victory over Zacarias confirmed Australia's presence at the season-ending Billie Jean King Cup Finals for a fourth time, where they will go in search of their first competition title since 1974.
Her success also meant that Sam Stosur made a winning start to her reign as Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain after taking over from the long-serving Alica Molik, who spent 10 years in role, in December.
“I have always looked up to Sam,” added Preston. “When I went to Glasgow [for the 2022 Finals] she was amazing when she was in the team, and I was the orange girl.
“She was super-supportive and any questions I had she was amazing. She is still the same now as captain. She is always open to help in whatever way she can and made me feel comfortable out on court today.”
The triumph of former junior world No. 10 Preston was a resounding one but at 4-1 in the first set Zacarias went over – clearly in significant pain – after incurring what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
It was a tense moment given the sickening injury suffered by Storm Hunter on Thursday but, to her immense credit, Zacarias played out the remainder of the match following a medical timeout.
The injury to Hunter – the 29-year-old ruptured her Achilles tendon on the eve of the tie – is set to see the 29-year-old spend a lengthy period on the sidelines and in all probability miss November’s Finals.
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺See you in Seville!
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 13, 2024
Australia become the first team to book their place in the #BJKCup Finals 🙌@TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/W7EXGeAmnR
Stosur called upon Saville to replace Hunter in yesterday’s second singles showdown and she more than played her part in edging Australia closer to the Finals and a potential silverware tilt in Seville.
Saville defeated Zacarias 6-1 6-0. Just as she was against Preston, Zacarias was bidding to post her 22nd Billie Jean King Cup match-win and claim sole ownership of the record for most Billie Jean King Cup match-wins by a Mexican player.
That milestone will have to wait – but it will surely come. This was a difficult tie for Mexico, who were without their three highest-ranked singles players, including world No. 100 Renata Zarazua, and at times they were ruthlessly exposed by Australia.
Saville proved the perfect foil for Rodionova, who earlier on day one claimed her maiden competition victory for Australia after returning to her nation’s Billie Jean King Cup roster for the first time in eight years.
While it was the perfect start for Australia, for a period it looked as though Rodionova's opponent Giuliana Olmos, who is considered more of a doubles specialist, was going to fire Mexico into a shock lead.
But Rodionova came storming back in Australia’s first Billie Jean King Cup match on home soil since 2019 and set the tone for what was ultimately a commanding victory for the hosts. Next stop for Australia, November’s Finals.
Highlights: Rodionova (AUS) v Olmos (MEX)
Highlights: Saville (AUS) v Zacarias (MEX)
Highlights: Preston (AUS) v Zacarias (MEX)
Australia v Mexico
