The Fed Cup final gets underway this weekend with Australia taking on France. Check out our full betting preview below.
WTA Tour 2019 | Fed Cup Finals
Australia vs France | RAC Arena, Perth, Australia, Hardcourt
Saturday 9 November – Sunday 10 November
Australia – To Win (6/10)
Captain: Alicia Molik
Team Members
Ashleigh Barty (1)
Ajla Tomljanovic (51)
Sam Stosur (96)
Astra Sharma (108)
Priscila Hon (126)
Alicia Molik will be looking to guide Australia to their first Fed Cup title since 1974. That’s a fairly amazing statistic considering their status as seven-time Fed Cup Champions. Their charge will understandably be led by World Number One and recent WTA Finals champion Ashleigh Barty. She has sent an ominous warning to France ahead of proceedings, stating that their will be no success fatigue in Perth this week. She had apparently earmarked Fed Cup success with this side as a major goal prior to her heroics at the French Open. Daria Gavrilova has been forced to withdraw due to injury, which has allowed for the inclusion of Ajla Tomljanovic. Tomljanovic is now legible to play for Australia, which presents a positive selection dilemma for Molik.
Sam Stosur has been playing Fed Cup tennis for 16 years but may find her opportunities scuppered this week by the presence of Tomljanovic. But Stosur is a totemic figure of this Aussie side and indeed captured the Aussie Open Double’s title earlier this year. Australia easily conquered the in-form Belarusian side last time out and Stosur was an integral figure in that victory. Australia will clearly enjoy the support of a rambunctious 15,000 strong crowd. They have an intimidating head-to-head record against France in Fed Cup competition, leading comfortably 5-1. Having said that, France emerged victorious during their last meeting in 2000.
France – To Win (5/4)
Captain: Julien Benneteau
Team Members
Kristina Mladenovic (40)
Caroline Garcia (45)
Alize Cornet (60)
Fiona Ferro (63)
Pauline Parmentier (122)
France will be looking to play the spoiler role this weekend and will face an uphill battle against both World Number One Barty and a fanatical Aussie crowd. France will be looking to capture their third Fed Cup title and 1st since 2003. This squad may not have the Barty factor, but there is a sense of cohesion and continuity in this squad that the Aussies simply do not possess. Mladenovic, Garcia and Cornet were present when they lost the 2016 final 3-2 to the Czech Republic. That’s extremely impressive when you consider the Czech Republic’s status as perhaps the greatest Fed Cup team of any period.
French supporters will be hugely encouraged by their semi-final victory over Romania. They had to overcome the presence of the iconic Simona Halep in that match. Despite Halep winning two single ties, this French side managed to grind out a battling 3-2 victory. It pretty much lays the foundation for their quest to defeat Australia and Ashleigh Barty. Additionally, both Mladenovic and Cornet have tasted Hopman Cup success in this country: Mladenovic with Richard Gasquet and Cornet with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Ashleigh Barty isn’t the only player entering this Fed Cup on a WTA Finals sugar rush. Kristina Mladenovic captured the season ending double’s title alongside Timea Babos: that completed a terrific year for the duo after also winning the Roland Garros title.
Verdict: Australia Win (3/1)
I can’t help but fall on the side of a home victory here. Outside of Mladenovic, this French side isn’t in the greatest shape. Their other highest ranked player is Caroline Garcia, who has really plummeted down the world rankings during the last year. The Barty factor is going to be tough to ignore. While I think that the Aussies may edge it prior to a decisive double’s tie, there is also positive news for Australia on that front. Sam Stosur’s victory in Melbourne earlier this year came in a final against the Mladenovic-Babos teaming. So this could be the perfect tonic for a nation still reeling somewhat from an ignominious Rugby World Cup exit.
