Group B Preview: Australia, Belarus, Belgium

AUSTRALIA

Squad: Ajla Tomljanovic, Storm Sanders, Ellen Perez, Olivia Gadecki, Priscilla Hon, Daria Gavrilova
Captain: Alicia Molik

Having made her Billie Jean King Cup debut for Australia in the 2019 final in Perth, Ajla Tomljanovic will lead the nation’s charge in Prague in the absence of Ashleigh Barty. The world No. 43 has enjoyed a good season so far in 2021, reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon and posting a fine three-set victory over former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza  en route to the last 16 at Indian Wells earlier this month, the fourth top-10 win of her career.

Tomljanovic may only have one appearance for Australia to her name, but Captain Alicia Molik’s policy of bringing the nation’s top emerging talent into the fold means that Storm Sanders is no stranger to pulling on the green and gold, while Ellen Perez partnered compatriot Samantha Stosur at the Olympics this summer. Priscilla Hon - who replaces the injured Astra Sharma - helped Australia beat USA in the 2019 quarter-finals. Teenager Olivia Gadecki is the latest to enjoy some exposure to the team environment early in her career, while Daria Gavrilova will also be in Prague as she steps up her recovery from Achilles surgery.

BELARUS

Squad: Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Yuliya Hatouka, Lidziya Marozava, Iryna Shymanovich, Vera Lapko
Captain: Tatiana Poutchek

With a strong cast of leading players to pick from, Belarus may miss the absent Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka in Prague but should not be overlooked as a force in Prague. In Aliaksandra Sasnovich, they have a seasoned Billie Jean King Cup campaigner: a veteran of 21 ties for her nation, she was at the heart of their 2017 run to the final, where she forced the match into a decisive doubles with a hard-earned three-set win over USA Sloane Stephens 8-6 in the final set, while her heroics in the Qualifiers helped Tatiana Poutchek's side beat Netherlands from 2-1 down in a decisive doubles that went to a final-set tiebreak.

Lidziya Marozava is back in the Belarus squad having made her Billie Jean King Cup debut in 2013, while Yuliya Hatouka joins the side for the first time. Iryna Shymanovich, a late call-up following the withdrawals of Azarenka and Olga Govortsova, has made one previous appearance in the competition back in 2014, and Vera Lapko, a verteran of 10 Billie Jean King Cup nominations, makes her return to the side for the first time since 2018.

BELGIUM

Squad: Elise Mertens, Greet Minnen, Ysaline Bonaventure, Kirsten Flipkens
Captain: Johan Van Herck

Having eased to a 3-1 Qualifiers victory over Kazakhstan to reach the Finals, Belgium head to the finals with as strong a squad as captain Johan Van Herck could have wished for. Leading the squad is Elise Mertens, world No. 18 in singles and world No. 1 in doubles, having won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Indian Wells doubles titles this season. The 25-year-old has established herself as the anchor of the side since her 2017 debut and will offer a twin threat against both Belarus and Australia on the first two days of competition.

Greet Minnen, up to a career-high No. 69 in the WTA rankings, returns to a side bursting with Billie Jean King Cup experience, both on court and off: Ysaline Bonaventure, whose competition debut came in 2012, comes in for Alison Van Uytvanck, joining former world No. 23 Kirsten Flipkens – the 35-year-old sealed Belgium’s win over Kazakhstan back in February 2020.

Potential key match: Tomljanovic (AUS) v Mertens (BEL)

A Centre Court billing awaits the No. 1s in the second match on Day 2 in Prague, as Australia takes its bow at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Belgium entering the tie a day after their opener against Belarus. Will Mertens be playing for a place in the semi-finals, or will Tomljanovic start on the verge of victory or needing to force the tie into a decisive doubles? The pair have met twice before, Mertens coming out on top in the Rabat final in 2018 and Tomljanovic edging to the narrowest of victories in three tiebreak sets in Birmingham earlier this season.

Tie dates 

Belgium v Belarus – Court 1, Monday 1 November, 10:30 CET
Australia v Belgium – Centre Court, Tuesday 2 November, 10:30 CET
Australia v Belarus – Centre Court, Thursday 4 November, 10:30 CET

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