Tennis Australia Press Release, April 13, 2024
The Australian Billie Jean King Cup team has completed a clean sweep against Mexico in the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane today.
Perth teen Taylah Preston donned green and gold for the first time, defeating Marcela Zacarias (MEX) 6-1 6-1 and securing Australia’s tie win.
Delight for the debutant 🤩
Taylah Preston seals the tie for Australia on debut in her first #BJKCup 👏@TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/4btI4k9oOf
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 13, 2024
“It was very special to be able to win the tie for Australia and to qualify for the finals,” said the world No.136.
“To wear green and gold is extremely special for me and hopefully I get to wear it many more times and play for Australia a lot more.”
At 18 years old, Preston is the first Australian teenager to win a debut singles match in the Billie Jean King Cup competition since 16-year-old Ash Barty in April 2013.
Daria Saville (Vic) and Ellen Perez (NSW) teamed up to win the final doubles rubber, notching a 6-3 6-1 win over Mexico’s Jessica Hinojosa Gomez (MEX) and Maria Fernando Navarro (MEX) in a highly electric atmosphere at Pat Rafter Arena.
This is Australia’s first 4-0 triumph in the competition since April 2017.
The victory ensures Australia will feature in the 12-nation Billie Jean King Cup Finals for a fourth consecutive year. The 2024 finals will be played in Seville, Spain in November.
“It’s very exciting and obviously the result we wanted. To win 4-0 is the perfect start for this team this year,” Australian captain Sam Stosur said.
“I’m very proud of all the players efforts, and obviously it was shared around a lot, so everyone played their part. I’m super happy for Taylah today making her debut and performing as well as she did.
“We are now in it to try and win the finals. I know that every single person on this team will give it everything they’ve got to make it as far as they can.”
The Australian team has now won 12 of its past 16 ties in the Billie Jean King Cup competition.
“Representing Australia means everything to us. I feel like the whole team did an unbelievable job. It was emotional seeing Storm get injured. For me, I was even more motivated, we all wanted to make Storm proud,” said Saville, Australia’s top ranked women’s player.
Day 1 Results – Friday 12 April
Women’s Singles Match 1
Arina Rodionova (Vic) d Giuliana Olmos (MEX) 3-6 6-3 6-1
Women’s Singles Match 2
Daria Saville (Vic) d Marcela Zacarias (MEX) 6-1 6-0
Day 2 Results – Saturday 13 April
Women’s Singles Match 3
Taylah Preston (WA) d Marcela Zacarias (MEX) 6-1 6-1
Women’s Doubles Match 4
Daria Saville (Vic)/Ellen Perez (NSW) d Jessica Hinojosa Gomez (MEX)/Fernanda Navarro (MEX) 6-3 6-1
