Daria Saville, Arina Rodionova and Sam Stosur hail teammate Storm Hunter’s help forward of Day Two of their Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier in opposition to Mexico.
Brisbane, 12 April 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup crew laid down an early marker on Day One of many qualifying tie in opposition to Mexico, decided to cement a finals return in honour of injured compatriot Storm Hunter.
Hunter suffered a severe Achilles damage, which threatened to sideline her for many of the season, on the eve of the primary day’s play.
Daria Saville and Arina Rodionova admitted they’d added incentive to safe the opening two rubbers in opposition to underdog opponents Marcela Zacarias and Giuliana Olmos, respectively, following Hunter’s merciless blow.
“Yesterday was a fairly robust day for us [after Hunter’s injury], fairly emotional… We’re giving Storm a whole lot of love and shout-out to the Mexican crew, they obtained Storm flowers, they’re tremendous good,” Saville mentioned.
“Yesterday what occurred with Storm, it gave me perspective once more that now I’m type of motivated much more as a result of it’s type of like, oh God, this could occur and this has occurred to me.
“Every time I come again the primary tournaments [from injury] I’m, like, tremendous excited and motivated however then you definately get again to routine and also you in all probability take a number of issues without any consideration, so now that it occurred to my finest pal it’s such as you actually can’t take something without any consideration.”
> READ: Saville, Rodionova carry Australia to 2-0 lead over Mexico
Crew captain Sam Stosur mentioned a call on who would take the court docket for Australia on the ultimate day’s play in singles and doubles could be finalised as soon as the crew had reconvened.
Australia must clinch only one extra rubber to e book the crew’s return to the finals in November. Stosur conceded it was extremely unlikely Hunter could be again in time ought to the crew advance.
“It’s emotionally very arduous at this cut-off date however credit score to her she got here out at this time,” she mentioned. “She nonetheless needed to be there and help her crew.
“She’ll try this, put that apart and do what she will now to assist us via these couple of days however yeah, I believe Sprint touched on it out on the court docket – we’re going to attempt to rally round her as a lot as we are able to. We would like her again out right here, she deserves to be out right here competing and taking part in and it’s only a horrible factor for her to need to undergo.”
> READ: Former Australian gamers reunite at Billie Jean King Cup in Brisbane
Rodionova, who opened the tie together with her first victory for Australia, mentioned she and her teammates appreciated Hunter stayed on to help them, realizing how arduous it will have been restricted to the sidelines.
“You don’t wish to see anybody get injured, not to mention your teammate and on court docket, the day earlier than the tie,” she mentioned. “It was rather a lot yesterday however we tried actually arduous to, type of, not transfer previous it however play a bit of bit for her at this time and tomorrow.
“We requested her yesterday at dinner – as a result of she must get surgical procedure – to remain for these two days to help us as a result of we’d like her. Doesn’t matter if it’s on the court docket, off the court docket… She’s a part of the crew and there’s 5 individuals not 4.
“We would like her to be there. If we win, all of us win. It doesn’t matter in case you’re taking part in otherwise you’re not taking part in… It’s all a crew effort this week.”
The 2-day Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier tie, which sees Australia tackle Mexico, is on Friday 12 April and Saturday 13 April.
Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster, with grownup costs beginning at $20, concessions from $16, children from $5 and household passes (two adults and two youngsters) beginning at $45.
> BUY NOW: Billie Jean King Cup tickets
Discover your approach to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!