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)
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Picture credit: Jimmie48/WTA
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