Breakout Gadecki tipped to lead Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup team

Australian captain Sam Stosur this week named new Aussie No.1 Olivia Gadecki as the helmswoman for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which the national team will contest in Spain in November.

Daria Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic, and doubles pro Ellen Perez were also named.

Gadecki, who’s still just 22, flew up the rankings after finishing as a finalist in Guadalajara, Mexico last week. She’s now ranked 88th, marking a 64-place jump for the young gun. Saville sits 103rd, while Alja’s 122nd. Another youngster, Maya Joint, currently sits 114th.

“I’m looking forward to being back playing solid tennis and leaving it all out on the court,” Gadecki said after her Australian team selection on Tuesday. “It means so much to be selected to represent Australia again. I’m looking forward to spending time with the girls and being out there as a team. I think we can really do some damage.”

Australia has twice made the grand final at the Billie Jean King Cup since 2019, though they were unable to bring home the chocolates in those two previous. This time they’ll face staunch resistance, especially in the form of the other three seeded teams: Italy, Canada, and the Czech Republic.

Australia will face the winners of a Slovakia vs. USA rubber on November 17; the Gadecki-led team was given a bye straight through to the second round thanks to the country’s lofty tennis rankings.

“We want to get back there and push for that next step,” Stosur said on her early expectations for the team. “Our team has a solid mix of experience and emerging talent. Olivia making her top-100 debut and Ellen as world No.10 in doubles puts us in great stead.

“We’re ready to play our best tennis and do Australia proud.”