Australia secure BJK Cup finals spot with clean sweep over Mexico

Australia are through to the Billie Jean King Cup finals after 18-year-old Taylah Preston crushed Mexico’s Marcela Zacarias 6-1 6-1 at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena.

Daria Saville and Ellen Perez later made it 4-0 to Australia with a 6-3 6-1 win over Jessica Hinojosa Gomez and Maria Navarro in the dead rubber doubles match.

Australia – runner-up twice in the last five years and chasing their first title since 1974 – are the first team to book a spot in the 12-team finals tournament to be played in Seville in November.

Team captain Sam Stosur said Australia displayed great resilience after losing spearhead Storm Hunter to an Achilles tendon rupture on the eve of the tie.

The 18-year-old went after the game and hit seven forehand and backhand winners with confidence and precision in the first set after being given her opportunity in the reverse singles by Stosur.

On Friday, Australia’s Ariana Rodionova beat the unranked Giuliana Olmos 3-6 6-3 6-1 in just over two hours, before Daria Saville thumped Zacarias 6-1 6-0 in 51 minutes.