Brisbane: A depleted US team have taken a 2-0 advantage over a full-strength Australian line-up in the Fed Cup world group play-off, Madison Keys spoiling Daria Gavrilova's debut on Pat Rafter Arena, and Sam Stosur's Queensland homecoming ruined in three sets by Christina McHale.
Fed Cup Captain Alicia Molik gives advice to Daria Gavrilova during an Australian Fed Cup practice session. Photo: Getty Images
If Gavrilova's 6-4, 6-2 loss to the US No.1 was no real surprise, then Stosur's 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 defeat to the 57th-ranked McHale completed a disappointingday for the hosts on their purpose-built claycourt at Pat Rafter Arena.
Stosur's second set disintegration allowed McHale back into a match in which she was a surprise selection ahead of teammate CoCo Vandeweghe, but Mary Jo Fernandez's choice proved to be a masterstroke. The Australians must now all three matches on Sunday to clinch the tie - and a berth in the eight-nation world group next year. Stosur, ranked 26th, and Keys, 25th lead-off with the first reverse singles.
Daria Gavrilova during practice. Photo: Getty Images
Russian-born Gavrilova, whose appeal to the ITF to be able to represent her adopted nation was upheld in March, slotted straight in as Australian captain Alicia Molik's singles No.2, but was overpowered by the opposition No.1, an Australian open semi-finalist in 2015.
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Grass is Keys' preferred surface, while Gavrilova considers herself best on clay, the surface custom-laid here at Australia's request. The pair had never played as professionals, having met only once at junior level at Florida's orange bowl, but this match was always on Keys' free-swinging racquet.
It lasted 77 minutes, Keys hitting 14 winners to two in each set, the majority off the forehand side. Gavrilova has dogged retrieving skills, but was simply overwhelmed by the force of the American's game.
"I expected a big ball, but she played really well, she was pretty much on from the first point and she showed it even in the five minute warm-up that she wanted it, so all credit to her," the world No.39 said of Keys. "I created some opportunites for myself, but didn't convert them.
"I think I adjusted a bit to her game in the second set and maybe was respecting her big ball too much, and started looking and playing higher balls a bit too often and just wasn't aggressive enough in the second set.
"Tomorrow is a new day and it's a team event so we're all supporting each other and I can't be down, (or) the teammates are not going to be happy with me."
Stosur, too, will need to pay far better on Sunday, her performance blighted by 44 unforced errors and some wild mishits, McHale far steadier and more consistent against a player she had not beaten in four previous attempts.
The former US Open champion has also been selected to partner Casey Dellacqua in the doubles should there be a live fifth rubber. That is now a far less likely scenario than it might have been.
Linda Pearce travelled with the assistance of the Fed Cup Foundation and Tennis Australia.