Australia’s top women players have an added incentive to play well against the Ukraine in the upcoming Federation Cup play-offs in July.

To qualify for Beijing selection, female tennis players must represent their nation at one Fed Cup tie in 2007 or 2008.

With Beijing places on offer, the Australian line-up will include some of the world’s best players, including current world no. 60 in singles and 2004 Athens Olympic Games bronze medallist (women’s singles), Alicia Molik as well as Nicole Pratt (43 in singles), Samantha Stosur (28 in singles and 2 in doubles) and Rennae Stubbs (7 in doubles).

The Ukraine will also showcase their best when they travel down under. Their prospective team members include; Alona Bordarenko (39 in singles 64 in doubles) Bordarenko’s younger sister Katerina (81 in singles, 66 in doubles), Julia Vakukenko (61 in singles), Yulia Beygelimer (111 in singles), Yuliana Fedak (41 in doubles) and Tatiana Perebiynis (65 in doubles).

Australia was named host nation for the July meeting at an official draw in London in late April. Tennis Australia has until the 11 May to inform the International Tennis Federation (ITF) of the venue for the tie.

On a day-to-day basis many players don’t partner with the fellow country men/women in tournaments i.e. doubles competition.

Therefore the Fed Cup gives female players the opportunity to compete together as a team and fine tune their game before they battle it out for Olympic gold.

The Fed Cup tie this July will be the first home tie for the Australian women since July 2003 when they played Colombia in Wollongong. The visitors were defeated 3-2.

If Australia looses this forthcoming bout against the Ukraine we will be relegated to the Asia/Oceania Group in 2008.

The Australian men will make their next Davis Cup appearance on 21-23 September against Serbia in Serbia. The venue is yet to be confirmed, Serbia has until the 11 May to inform the ITF of the location of the tie.

Sarah-Lucy Rice

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