AFTER completing our team-by-team previews ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup, Draft Central now focuses the attention on the Group-by-Group previews. Over the next four days we will run through the four groups and who is anticipated to progress, the stars, and the ones to watch in each of the groups.
GROUP B
TEAMS
Australia (2nd)
Belarus (5th)
Belgium (16th)
GROUP FIXTURES
Belarus vs. Belgium | Nov 1
Australia vs. Belgium | Nov 2
Australia vs. Belarus | Nov 4
PREDICTION
When the Billie Jean King Cup groups were drawn, all eyes were on Group B as Australia and Belarus ended up in the same trio. The top two players in the world – Ash Barty and Aryna Sabalenka – going head-to-head in the O2 Arena would be the stuff dreams are made of for the Billie Jean King Cup spectators. Alas, neither player is heading there, leaving Belarus in the capable hands of Victoria Azarenka, though Australia is a little worse for wear with only Ajla Tomljanovic inside the WTA Tour’s Top 100 singles players. Withouts Samantha Stosur as a reliable head for the doubles and experience to settle the inexperienced team down, the 2019 runners-up will be the underdogs in this group.
Australia might come in as the top seed in this group, but drawing the toughest possible opponent in fifth placed Belarus, negated the fact they also drew the lowest possible opponent in Belgium. Especially given the fact that Elise Mertens is still a Top 20 player, and Alison Van Uytvanck is in good form and on the verge of a Top 50 place again. The Belgians drop off after that, but the doubles combination of Mertens (third) and Van Uytvanck (70th), or Greet Minnen (72nd) and Kirsten Flipkens (75th) makes them a real chance in the doubles. Even Australia’s combination of Ellen Perez and Storm Sanders has potential.
It means Belarus must win both singles to avoid risking it in the doubles, with Azarenka likely to have to play doubles if the tie is still on the line. Sasnovich (59th) and Lidziya Marozava (87th) are others who could step up, and are ranked higher than Azarenka in the format given the Grand Slam winner has only played five tournaments this year. Overall, Belarus should still advance through to the next stage, though it will be interesting to see whether Belgium can cause a massive boilover with weakened opponents without their top singles talents.
TIP: Belarus to advance to the semi-finals
PLAYER TO WATCH: Olivia Gadecki (Australia)
~
Picture credit: Jimmie48/WTA
~
Italy goes one better to win 2024 BJK Cup
AFTER suffering a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Canada 12 months ago, Italy has transformed from bridesmaid to the bride with a 2-0 victory over Slovakia in the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup overnight. Winning both the singles matches meaning there was no requirement to play the doubles, Italy showed it was the team […]
Slovakia makes history by reaching BJK Cup final
A TRUE underdog tale is emerging in Malaga with world number 10s Slovakia – expected to essentially make up the numbers coming into the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup Finals – reaching the decider for just the second time in the nation’s history. The small European country – least population of any nation at the […]
Italy holds nerve to reach BJK Cup final
IT WAS far from easy for the Italian Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup side, with the reigning runners-up having to overcome a fierce challenge from Poland to books its place in the 2024 final. Having achieved the feat 12 months ago but fallen a win short of ultimate glory, the second ranked side will now […]
Reigning champs out as Brits bounce into BJK Cup semis
A NEW Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup champion will be crowned this week after reigning titleholders Canada were knocked out of the event overnight. Great Britain proved too strong for the North Americans, cruising to a 2-0 result to rubber stamp its entry into the final four and the chance to reach the deciding match. […]
Slovakia sweeps Aussies in dominant performance
SLOVAKIA proved too strong for reigning semi-finalists Australia in the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup overnight, denying the green and gold a place in the final four. After a tight first singles match, the Europeans easily destroyed Australia in the second with no need for the doubles and a spot in the semi-finals secured. Coming […]
Swiatek saves day for Poland, secures semi
WORLD number two Iga Swiatek is still working back to her best form but the Polish star did what she needed to do against the Czech Republic in order for her nation to reach the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup. Poland got past danger side Czech Republic with Swiatek coming in with […]
Perfect Paolini steers Italy to BJK Cup victory
COMING off a huge WTA Finals in both the singles and doubles formats, world number four Jasmine Paolini did not slow down when representing her nation in the Billie Jean King Cup overnight. The Italian star steered Italy to a 2-1 victory over Japan, picking up straight sets wins in both the singles and doubles […]
Brits Boult into BJK Cup quarters
GREAT Britain will have the chance to test itself against world number ones and reigning Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup champion Canada after sweeping Germany in the first round of the BJK Cup Finals overnight. Taking place in Malaga Spain, Great Britain needed just over three hours to secured the victory with a full-strength squad […]
Sramk-ova for ‘Danimal’ as Slovakia stuns USA
DESPITE bringing a half-strength side to the Billie Jean King Cup, few would have predicted that super power tennis national the United States could not get past Slovakia in the first round of the knockout stage. However that was exactly the case with the world number fives suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to the 10th […]
