NZ to face China first up at Billie Jean King Cup

The entire New Zealand team has now all arrived in Antalya in Turkey for the Asia Oceania Group 1 Billie Jean King Cup tournament which starts tomorrow night.

Doubles stalwart Erin Routliffe was the last player to join the five strong Kiwi team following her exit from the WTA 500 tournament in Charleston, South Carolina at the weekend.

The team is spearheaded by Paige Hourigan and Valentina Ivanov with Katherine Westbury, 17-year-old Vivian Yang and Routliffe making up the playing Group.

New Zealand face China first up on Tuesday 4pm local time (1am NZT Wednesday) before playing South Korea, Japan, India and Indonesia.

It’s a tall order for New Zealand which won promotion to Group 1 by winning the Asia Oceania Group 2 tournament in February 2020. The top two teams are promoted to the World Group with two teams remaining in Group 1 and two teams relegated.

The Kiwis are the lowest ranked team at the tournament (35) but captain Marina Erakovic believes there are a number of factors which mean the rankings don’t necessarily mean much.

“I have been doing a little bit of homework. Even though there are some good players in the other teams, clay is new to most of the teams. The other thing is the Covid factor. It’s affected all the teams in some way or another and you never know who is injured or how they are playing.  So, I wouldn't make too much of the fact we are the lowest ranked team and we still have a good shot, if our team is healthy and play well.” Erakovic said.

While Hourigan and Ivanov will be expected to play the two singles matches on the opening day given, they have been in Antalya the longest and are acclimatised, Erakovic says their selections are not automatic.

“I'll definitely be looking at who's playing, how they're playing, and just giving our girls the best chance. And the thing I love about Billie Jean King Cup is I'm on the court there with them so can help and support which is awesome. I always loved that aspect about it when I was playing, because you really do feel like you're not out there on your own.”

Erakovic is hoping to pass on her knowledge of playing on clay for many years on the WTA Tour to the New Zealand players who have had limited experience on the surface.

“It’s literally been about preparing for these conditions, knowing what the surface we're going to be playing on.  Obviously, the girls have all played at some stage on clay. But it's actually just about learning how are we going to play here. Clay is so different to grass or hard courts or Astro turf. It’s really about knowing how to stay in the rally and structuring the point and not pulling the trigger too early. So that's kind of been the focus for most of the girls.” Erakovic said.

The format for each match will see two singles matches played before the doubles rubber if the tie is level at one all. Routliffe is ranked 33 in doubles but also backs herself as a singles player, so will she come into Erakovic’s thinking?

“We’re not removing playing singles off the table for Erin. It’s unlikely but it's not off the table. We will see how the other girls are playing and how healthy they are. But our priority is to have Erin in those doubles and leading those doubles. She’s had an epic year and has been doing amazingly well.” Erakovic said.

While on paper at least it shapes as a difficult task to stay in Group 1. Erakovic is optimistic.

“If we make it out of group one, I will be over the moon, I'll be super over the moon, but if we we stay in as well, that that would be a really good achievement. So, I do believe we can stay in this group with what we've got.”