Britain on Verge of Billie Jean King Cup Victory as Stojsavljevic Stuns Australia

Great Britain is one win away from securing a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, thanks to impressive victories by teenager Mika Stojsavljevic and Harriet Dart over Australia in Melbourne. Stojsavljevic, ranked 275th in the world, pulled off a stunning 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win against world No 65 Talia Gibson on her Billie Jean King Cup debut, overcoming a 219-place difference in the WTA rankings. The 17-year-old, who is the 2024 US Open junior champion, gave Britain a perfect start in the qualifiers, which are being played without key players Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Katie Boulter, and Fran Jones. Stojsavljevic took an early 3-1 lead but needed a tie-break to secure the first set, then successfully defended five break points before closing out a tightly contested second set with five breaks of serve. 'It feels amazing, I'm still in shock,' Stojsavljevic said, expressing her gratitude for the support from the British team. Harriet Dart later battled back to defeat Kiimberly Birrell 4-6 6-3 6-3, leaving Britain requiring just one more win from the remaining three matches to qualify for the finals in Shenzhen, China, from September 22-27. 'I'm thrilled to have secured the win after Mika's incredible performance,' Dart said, adding that she's always proud to represent her country. Dart will team up with Jodie Burrage in Saturday's doubles rubber against Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez, aiming to complete the tie for Britain.