Serbia have sprung a selection surprise ahead of their Fed Cup World Group II play-off tie against Australia with 19-year-old Ivana Jorovic named alongside Aleksandra Krunic for singles duty.
The world No.174 got the nod ahead of Nina Stojanovic, ranked some 44 places above her, at Friday’s draw in the northern city of Zrenjanin.
Saturday’s opening rubber will see Ashleigh Barty go head-to-head with Serbian spearhead Aleksandra Krunic, with Jorovic to face Daria Gavrilova in the day’s second clash.
Barty will team up with Casey Dellacqua in the doubles on Sunday against Krunic and Stojanovic.
The Queenslander proved too strong for Krunic at the Brisbane International in January but said this week she was not putting too much stock into that result ahead of the crucial tie in Serbia.
Australia are aiming to avoid being relegated to the Oceania zone for the first time since 2009 and are again doing so without top-ranked player and former US Open champion Samantha Stosur, who is focusing on her preparations for next month’s French Open.
“Clay court season has always been important to her which is why she has withdrawn from this tie,” team captain Alicia Molik told AAP.
“I’d like to see her back in the Fed Cup but at the same time we’ve got to look forward.
“We really like the arena, the surface is something we enjoy and it suits everyone’s game here, we’re very used to the surface now and very comfortable.”
Krunic is the only member aged over 20 in a Serbian team which will face two players – Gavrilova and Barty – ranked inside the world’s top 100 and a confident Molik said the numbers didn’t lie.
“I think it’s important and it’s a good thing when your rankings are high and you’re the favourites because your standard of tennis matches up to your rankings,” she said.
“Rankings certainly don’t lie and they’re an indication of the level that you can play and compete at.
“Yes, they have some younger members but if you look at our team we have a lot of youth, especially in our newest member Destanee Aiava, at 16 representing her nation.”