British teen ranked No.275 shocks top player as Team GB thrive without Raducanu | Tennis | Sport

Teenager Mika Stojsavljevic made a stunning debut for Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup, causing a massive upset as she beat world No. 56 Talia Gibson 7-6(4) 7-5 to start Team GB’s qualifier tie against Australia. Stojsavljevic, aged just 17 and ranked down at No. 275 in the world, had never represented Britain at the BJK Cup before.

Meanwhile, Gibson recently broke into the top-60 after a stunning Sunshine Double, reaching the Indian Wells quarter-final and the Miami Open fourth round as a qualifier. Stojsavljevic is the lowest-ranked player in the British squad, which has been left without top players Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Katie Boulter, and Francesca Jones.

But the Brits often thrive as underdogs in the World Cup of women’s tennis, and that was no different on Friday, as 2024 US Open junior champion Stojsavljevic silenced the Aussie crowd on John Cain Arena. The 17-year-old broke early in the first set before Gibson levelled the score. Stojsavljevic then raced into a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak, but the Aussie got back on serve. Still, she regrouped to win the tiebreak 7-4.

Stojsavljevic again blew an early break lead in set two, and then had to save five break points at 5-5. But she didn’t lose another game, breaking to clinch a straight-sets victory on her debut for the team. “It feels amazing. I can’t believe it. I can’t even remember the last point,” the elated world No. 275 said.

“I had amazing support from the side and managed to get through. Going into it, I knew she’d have the home ground. I’m grateful to the people supporting GB today. It was a good match. We have very similar games, both quite aggressive, so I’m happy I got through it.”

The 17-year-old never expected to get a call-up for the team so soon in her career, let alone represent them in an official match. “I mean, when I got the call up from Anne [Keothavong, captain], I couldn’t believe it, to be honest.

“Obviously I knew that some of the other girls weren’t available, but you know, I thought that was a good thing for me really, because I was honoured to make the team. And when Anne said that I could play singles as well, that was even more incredible. So I thought I was ready, and I think I showed that to myself today more than anything, and I’m proud of how I handled it.”

World No. 56 Gibson, who is acting as the Aussie No. 1 while Maya Joint is injured, said: “It’s my first time playing a match in the Billie Jean King Cup for Team Australia, so there was obviously some nerves out there today and not the way I would have liked to have played and not the result that I would have liked to have had happened. Credit to Mika, she came out playing really well, served amazing, so I did my best with what I was able to bring today, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”

Harriet Dart, the British No. 5 and world No. 173, then came from a set down to beat world No. 80 Kimberly Birrell 4-6 6-3 6-3 in a rollercoaster match that saw 16 breaks of serve. It gave Team GB a 2-0 lead at the end of the first day.

The Brit then told the crowd: “I’m super happy to be able to get the win after Mika’s incredible performance earlier. I’m very happy to notch the win – there were so many ups and downs throughout the match, but in the end I was able to find the way.”

There are three more matches scheduled for Saturday – a doubles rubber and two singles contests. Dart is expected to partner up with Jodie Burrage in the doubles, as they faced experienced Aussie duo Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez. Hunter and Perez must win to keep Australia alive. Dart will then face Gibson, before Stojsavljevic takes on Birrell.

Team GB only need to win one more match on Saturday to book their spot in the BJK Cup Finals, taking place in Shenzhen in September.

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