Australia 2-0 Mexico: Saville targets Top 20 after firing Aussies to brink of 2024 Finals
12/04/2024 05:10
Australia are one match-win away from reaching the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals following singles victories for Arina Rodionova and Daria Saville on day one of their Qualifier with Mexico in Brisbane
By Ross McLean
Irrepressible Daria Saville dispatched Marcela Zacarias in clinical fashion to fire Australia into a commanding 2-0 lead in their 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier with Mexico in Brisbane.
Saville prevailed 6-1 6-0 in the second singles showdown of the tie, building upon the earlier 3-6 6-3 6-1 victory of Arina Rodionova, who recovered from a set down to defeat Guliana Olmos in the opening clash.
Seven-time champions Australia are now one further match-win away from reaching November’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals. It would be the fourth time Australia, who are seeking their first title in this competition since 1974, have reached the Finals.
Saville certainly played her part in ensuring Australia are in contention for silverware at the season-ending finale, defeating Zacarias with consummate ease to fire her nation to the brink of their latest triumph.
The 30-year-old was not initially selected to play singles on the tie's opening day and only featured following freak injury to Storm Hunter, who now faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines, in practice on Thursday. Saville, nevertheless, grasped her opportunity.
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 may still happen this weekend, but Saville was unrelenting in her opening salvo.
Perfection 🤩
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 12, 2024
Storm Hunter has to applaud her teammate 👏😍#BJKCup | @TennisAustralia | @Daria_gav pic.twitter.com/UMSuK2GoJ7
“Yesterday was emotional day for all of us after what happened to Storm,” said world No. 94 Saville, who endured her own long-term injury lay-off after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear in 2022.
“We were sad and we were shocked – we went through a lot of different emotions. But with our team everyone has to be ready, everybody is prepared to play, and everyone is practicing as if they are going to play.
“What happened to Storm, it gave me perspective again and I am motivated even more because these things can happen and it has happened to me. When it’s happened to my best friend, you really cannot take things for granted.
“Today, I wanted to play my brand of tennis and I did it really well. There are always things to improve and that is the beauty of our sport. Today was a great performance and I just want to build on it.
“I still have a goal to come back to my best ranking, which was Top 20.”
Saville proved the perfect foil for Rodionova, who earlier 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 at the Pat Rafter Arena.
Advantage Australia 🇦🇺@arinarodionova takes the first match 3-6 6-3 6-1#BJKCup | @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/NQCIK8PNak
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 12, 2024
While it was ultimately the perfect start for Australia, for a period it looked as though Olmos, who is considered more of a doubles specialist, was going to fire Mexico into a shock lead.
Mexico are without their three highest-ranked singles players, including world No. 100 Renata Zarazua, but in the build-up to the tie their captain Agustin Moreno spoke of his team’s belief.
The early showing of Olmos suggested his stance was not misplaced with the 31-year-old, who has not won a main draw singles match at any level since November 2019, taking the early plaudits.
But Rodionova came storming back in Australia’s first Billie Jean King Cup match on home soil since 2019, handing Sam Stosur the perfect start to her reign as Aussie captain after replacing Alicia Molik in December.
The tie continues tomorrow with more singles matches, with Rodionova set to face Zacarias and Saville set to take on Olmos, before doubles takes centre. By then, however, Australia may well have sealed victory.
As with all Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers taking place this weekend, the winners will book their respective places at November’s Finals, while the losers will contest the Play-offs in the same month.
Highlights: Rodionova (AUS) v Olmos (MEX)
Highlights: Saville (AUS) v Zacarias (MEX)
Australia v Mexico
