The Australian Fed Cup team has gone down 4-1 to Austria in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II first round tie in Dornbirn.
World No.25 Sybille Bammer sealed the tie for the home nation when she defeated Samantha Stosur 6-3 7-5 in the day's opening rubber.
The Australian Fed Cup team has gone down 4-1 to Austria in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II first round tie in Dornbirn.
World No.25 Sybille Bammer sealed the tie for the home nation when she defeated Samantha Stosur 6-3 7-5 in the day's opening rubber.
“It was a very tough match today,” Bammer said. “I played better than yesterday and I was a little bit more calm and it was a very good match. I tried to make her run, I tried not to play too much to her forehand.”
Austrian No.2, 16-year-old Tamira Paszek then extended Austria's winning margin to 4-0 when she won 6-4 6-2 over Alicia Molik in one hour, 18 minutes.
The doubles team of Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs scored Australia’s only point of the tie when they defeated the Austrian pair Yvonne Meusburger and Melanie Klaffner 6-4 6-3.
Australian Fed Cup captain David Taylor was positive despite the loss.
“The girls are doing well throughout the year and although we didn’t get through this tie we’ve done pretty well to get back into the World Group II and so there’s still a positive feeling amongst the girls.
“We’re looking forward to hopefully next year being in this same position going for the World Group I.”
The team will now look ahead to the official draw to be held at 8.00pm AEST time (11.00am GMT) on Wednesday 25 April to find out which nation it will face in the World Group II playoffs to be held from 14-15 July.
It has been nearly three years since Australia last played a home tie which was in Wollongong against Colombia in July 2003.
“Looking at [our potential opponents in] that Wednesday draw, it’s going to be a 50/50 thing, so I’m sure we deserve a little bit of luck with some home ties and I hope we get that,” Taylor said.
Final results:
Austria d Australia 4-1
Tamira Paszek (AUT) d Samantha Stosur (AUS) 6-1 6-1 Sybille Bammer (AUT) d Alicia Molik (AUS) 7-5 6-4
Sybille Bammer (AUT) d Samantha Stosur (AUS) 6-3 7-5
Tamira Paszek (AUT) d Alicia Molik (AUS) 6-4 6-2
Samantha Stosur / Rennae Stubbs (AUS) d Yvonne Meusburger / Melanie Klaffner (AUT) 6-4 6-3
Tennis Australia
