World No 275 Stojsavljevic puts depleted Britain on brink of Billie Jean King Cup win

Teenager Mika Stojsavljevic, ranked 275th in the world, and teammate Harriet Dart secured a crucial 2-0 lead for a depleted Great Britain team against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday, putting them on the brink of qualification for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The victory came during the qualifying round of the prestigious women's team tennis competition, with Britain needing just one more win from the remaining three matches to advance to the finals later this year. The British team, missing its top-ranked players including US Open champion Emma Raducanu and former world number one Johanna Konta due to injuries and scheduling, was considered the underdog against a strong Australian side. Stojsavljevic, making her debut in the competition at just 18 years old, delivered a stunning performance by defeating world number 44 Ajla Tomljanović in straight sets. This was followed by Dart's hard-fought victory over Storm Sanders, further solidifying Britain's commanding position. The result represents a significant upset and highlights the depth of British women's tennis. Captain Anne Keothavong's strategic decisions in selecting the young squad have paid dividends, showcasing the emergence of new talent capable of performing under pressure on the international stage. With only one more victory required from Sunday's reverse singles or doubles match, Britain is poised to secure a spot in the 12-team finals, continuing their recent strong record in the competition formerly known as the Fed Cup.