Ajla Tomljanovic and Kimberly Birrell have fallen quick in opposition to an impressed Slovakia as Australia’s hopes for a fourth semifinal in 5 years finish.
Malaga, Spain, 18 November 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Australia’s focus in Malaga will flip to the Davis Cup after its Billie Jean King Cup marketing campaign ended in opposition to Slovakia within the quarterfinals.
The Australian group, a finalist as just lately as 2022 and 2019, had aimed to succeed in the semifinals for the fourth time in 5 years, however fell 2-0 to their opponents, who had surprised a depleted United States within the spherical of 16.
World No.241 Viktoria Hruncakova downed Kimberly Birrell 7-5 6-7(7) 6-3 earlier than in-form 43-ranked Rebecca Sramkova beat Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 6-2 at Marten Carpena Enviornment.
Tomljanovic’s first-set on-court tumble, which required therapy on her left knee, compounded the troublesome loss, however group captain Sam Stosur, in her first 12 months on the helm, was pleased with the group’s efforts.
A troublesome method to finish our 2024 #BJKCup marketing campaign 💔
Properly performed Ajla on preventing by means of to the tip, and we want you a speedy restoration 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Sp04JdZAwa
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 17, 2024
“I believe Kim was very, very near getting that first match our manner, which was nice. I believed it was a extremely good, high quality match,” Stosur mentioned. “That was unlucky to be down 1-0, after which I believe it was fairly apparent from 4-0 Ajla was actually struggling.
“Yeah, it was a tricky scenario to then be attempting to get ourselves again into the tie when clearly you may see that your No.1 participant is fairly hampered on the market. Yeah, not the way in which you ever need it to go.”
The 31-year-old Tomljanovic was again because the Australian No.1 after she picked up her second WTA 125 title in Hong Kong final month however struggled after a medical timeout within the opening set in opposition to Sramkova, who had upset world No.11 Danielle Collins within the Slovaks’ upset of the US.
“Undoubtedly felt actually arduous to get again on monitor after that, as a result of, you realize, having a earlier harm there, it by no means feels good to really feel one thing go unsuitable,” the world No.85 mentioned.
“I imply, I at all times bounce again, so I’ll, however it’s undoubtedly a tricky day, particularly when it virtually appears like I’d have taken this a bit simpler if it was only a common event for myself, however you don’t wish to let your teammates down.”
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World No.115 Birrell, who reached her maiden tour closing in Osaka final month, battled for greater than two-and-a-half hours earlier than she went all the way down to former top-50 participant Hruncakova.
She conceded her opponent’s serve proved pivotal.
“I discovered it fairly robust to make any inroads into her service video games till I had a few possibilities within the second set, and within the third set, too. However, yeah, credit score to her. I believe she performed rather well, particularly on the massive factors,” Birrell mentioned.
“Yeah, I imply, I fought as arduous as I might. I left every little thing on the market. I believe I did enhance because the match went on, however I performed in opposition to a high quality participant who simply performed higher than me on the day.”
