Bearing no mental scars from a heavy Fed Cup defeat, Australia’s women are confident of maintaining a dominant tennis record against Switzerland in their high-pressure World Group play-off.
Alicia Molik’s team will fight to keep their prized place in the world’s top eight in the claycourt tie in Chiasso starting on Saturday, after falling to the Czech Republic 4-0 in the World Group first round.
Having battled so hard last year to return to elite level, Australia are desperate to avoid relegation again.
Captain Molik has kept faith with the same team that went down to the Czechs but spearhead Samantha Stosur insists confidence remains intact.
“We certainly won’t be dwelling on that result,” said Stosur, who has been battling a calf muscle injury but expected to play.
“We all actually played very good matches there and probably got a little bit unlucky at times.
“It was a lot closer than the score suggested so it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of and we’re here to compete this week and not worry what happened in the last tie.”
Australia have reason to be upbeat given their 5-1 win-loss record against the Swiss.
They met in the World Group II first round last year and Australia’s only loss came on clay in Zurich way back in 1983.
Still, Stosur and co. will not be underestimating a Switzerland outfit featuring handy singles players Romina Oprandi (ranked 52) and Stefanie Voegele (56), who beat three higher-ranked players in Charleston earlier this month.
“We’ve had good success against them, mostly, and hopefully this time will be no different,” Stosur said.
“But it’s certainly nothing you can take light-hearted.
“We’ve certainly got to be aware of how well they can play and what a home crowd can do for them.”
Much interest will surround Stosur’s troublesome calf muscle, with the injury causing concern ahead of the French Open contender’s claycourt campaign.
The 2011 US Open winner first suffered the injury at Indian Wells last month and she later withdrew during the Charleston event.
Stosur will require strong support from teammates Casey Dellacqua (132), Ashleigh Barty (195) and Jarmila Gajdosova (197) in the southern Swiss city.