Stunning GB display leaves Australia on the verge of missing back-to-back BJK Cup Finals

(Getty/Daniel Pockett)

Before Day 1 of Billie Jean King Cup qualifying commenced, Australia were heavy favourites to knock off Great Britain. Now, not so much.

The Aussies, captained by Sam Stosur, hosted the Brits at Melbourne's John Cain Arena in the first of two-day ties, with a spot in September's BJK Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, up for grabs.

Australia's top-ranked player, Maya Joint, was made unavailable due to a back injury, while Great Britain has been made to do without Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Francesca Jones, and former US Open winner Emma Raducanu.

Coming off a whirlwind Sunshine Double at Indian Wells and the Miami Open, world No.56 Talia Gibson fell short in a tight affair (6-7(4), 5-7) against 17-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic, ranked 275th in the world.

Gibson rallied back from 2-5 down in the second set to level at 5-5, but it wasn't enough to derail her teenage opponent, who hugged her captain, Anne Keothavong, in disbelief.

"It was a really good match," said Stojsavljevic, who won the 2024 US Open girls' singles title.

"I knew she was going to play really well. I know that she's a very good player, and obviously had a good last couple of weeks... I'm pleased that I got through it."

She later admitted that when she received the call-up, she "couldn't believe it" and described the feeling of being told she would play in the singles as "incredible".

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Although a shock in terms of the result, 21-year-old Gibson is keeping her head held high.

"I'm proud of myself for the fact that I kept fighting and got back to that stage," she said.

"Hopefully, next time I can think back to those moments and what I can do better to try and get on top there.

"I mean, at the end of the day, it's kind of how tennis works – these things happen, so it's just a bit of a learning opportunity really."

The pressure intensified on Kim Birrell's shoulders as she clashed with world No.173 Harriet Dart in the second and final rubber of the day.

Despite racing out to a one-set lead, Birrell couldn't fully capitalise as she succumbed to a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 loss, in a match that had many ups and downs, including a total of 16 breaks of serve.

"Credit where credit's due. They certainly played a pretty good level of tennis," Stosur admitted when talking about Great Britain's performance.

"Tennis is all about momentum shifts, so unfortunately, it didn't quite finish the way we wanted it to.

"It's best-of-five [rubbers] for a reason. We've got players on our side that all of us believe in – tomorrow's going to be all about that."

Australia will hope for a bigger crowd on Saturday, as Australia can't afford to lose another rubber if they are to advance.

The experience of Ellen Perez and Storm Hunter is pencilled in for the doubles match (first up on Saturday), before Gibson and Birrell play their reverse singles fixtures.

This time last year, Australia failed to qualify for the Shenzhen Finals after a defeat to Elena Rybakina's Kazakhstan.

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