Australia is on the cusp of returning to the pinnacle of women’s teams tennis after heroic feats from Samantha Stosur sealed a memorable Fed Cup triumph over Spain.
Stosur featured in all three of Australia’s victories against Spain in Adelaide as the host nation claimed the tie three-two on Sunday.
Stosur’s blemish-free achievements were the cornerstone of a win which progresses Australia into an April play-off for elevation to the elite World Group for the first time since 2004.
The top ranked Australian clinched the tie in a doubles decider with 39-year-old Rennae Stubbs, within hours of her second singles success at Memorial Drive over the weekend.
Stosur and Stubbs eclipsed Spain’s Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez and Nurai Llagostera Vives 6-4 6-2.
Stosur was on court for the doubles match within two hours of her ruthless demolition earlier Sunday of Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1 6-3.
That victory was followed by an Australian gamble on Alicia Molik which went bust.
Molik had been listed to partner Stubbs in the doubles but was summoned for the fourth rubber singles with Australia leading two-one.
But the South Australian was crushed by Carla Suarez Navarro, the Spaniard winning 6-1 6-1 as Molik sprayed a whopping 33 unforced errors.
Stosur and Stubbs then took to their do or die role with aplomb, prevailing in a tight first set before romping through the second.
Australian captain David Taylor hailed Stosur as “the best player in Australia, male or female, at the moment”.
“For her to come here under pressure, under scrutiny … to go as far as any Australian in the singles at the Aussie Open, and come here and then do that for your country is just a really good effort from her,” Taylor said.
“That can change careers and could give her an extra step up now to get even better.
“It’s very significant.”
Stosur said the decision for her to feature in the defining doubles fixture was made after her comfortable singles win on Sunday.
“That definitely helped, that my singles match wasn’t too long,” she said.
“And I was playing pretty well out there so that helped a bit.”
The world no.11 was satisfied to lift Australia to a playoff, against an as yet unknown opponent, to return to the elite World Group.
“I’m just really really happy, it has been a long road back to this point,” Stosur said.
“It is just really exciting and really great to be a part of … it’s a great feeling.”
Spanish captain Miguel Margets Lobato said Stosur was the undoubted difference between the nations.
“Samantha was too good,” he said.
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