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Australia take control with 2-0 lead in Germany
Australia are on the verge of promotion to the Fed Cup World Group after US Open winner Samantha Stosur and Jarmila Gajdosova put their team 2-0 up in the play-off against hosts Germany today.
Australia are on the verge of promotion to the Fed Cup World Group after US Open winner Samantha Stosur and Jarmila Gajdosova put their team 2-0 up in the play-off against hosts Germany on Saturday.
Stosur, ranked fifth in the world, needed a tie-break to see off Germany's Angelique Kerber in the opening rubber before securing a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 victory.
Despite being heavily out-ranked, team-mate Gajdosova, 50th in the world, then blasted Germany's Julia Goerges (16th) 6-4, 6-4 to put Australia firmly in control ahead of Sunday's three remaining matches.
Just one more win would give Australia promotion from World Group II, while Germany are facing relegation and have an uphill task to salvage something from the tie.
"I gave a good performance. I was playing well and I kept the momentum of my game," said Stosur, who needed one hour and 41 minutes to see off Kerber, ranked 14th in the world.
"There is always pressure on both players to win the first point for your team; for Angelique because she is playing in front of her home crowd and for me as I'm ranked higher.
"Of course, it helped having won the first set. It eases you up and you can stay focused and calm. I know that everybody is expecting me to win two points for Australia and I will do my best."
Stosur is back in action in Sunday's first singles rubber, when she takes on Georges, while Gajdosova is then scheduled to face Kerber.
In the doubles, specialist Anna-Lena Groenefeld is due to partner Andrea Petkovic for Germany against Australian pair Casey Dellacqua and Fed Cup debutant Olivia Rogowska.
