Talia Gibson spent March hunting for scalps and delivered with distinction in the prestigious Sunshine Swing in America, but on a bleak Friday in Melbourne, the emerging Aussie found life is far harder when you become the target.
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The Western Australian vowed to learn from a testing experience on debut for her nation in the Billie Jean King Cup, but she will need to rely on her teammates to give her another chance with Australia in significant peril against Great Britain.
In a tie Australia was favoured to win given the absence of English stars Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, the partner of Alex de Minaur, the hosts instead trail Great Britain 0-2 and must win all three rubbers on Saturday to progress to the finals.
The favouritism stemmed in part from Gibson’s stellar March, a month that saw her outhit the world’s richest female athlete and post five wins over Top 20 ranked rivals at Indian Wells and in the Miami Open to surge into the world’s top 60.
She had played magnificently in the top tier events, swinging from the hip to defeat quality rivals including four-time major champion Naomi Osaka and dual-grand slam finalist Jasmine Paolini.
Courtesy of a run from qualifying to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and the fourth round in Miami, the 21-year-old was trusted with leading Australia in a Billie Jean King Cup tie in Melbourne but failed to bring her best form back home.
Dealing with expectation is a curious thing for emerging athletes and having spent the past month as the underdog, the right-hander was in the opposite position on John Cain Arena despite debuting when beaten by Mika Stojsavljevic 7-6 (4) 7-5.
Australia’s fate worsened when the experienced Kimberly Birrell was beaten 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the second rubber at John Cain Arena.
By age and ranking, Gibson’s loss to her 17-year-old rival is an upset given who she has been beating, but there are caveats.
Stojsavljevic is ranked 275, but that belies the talent of a peer of young Aussie Emerson Jones – she has beaten the former world No.1 ranked junior, who might get a chance Saturday depending on what unfolds.
Stojsavljevic won the US Open girls singles just over 18 months ago and has significant weapons.
The teenager’s shotmaking in the tiebreaker was breathtaking, from the power and precision she displayed when thumping three winners early on the deftness of a drop shot that gave her set points. And she clearly has poise as well.
Her serve came to the fore when, after Gibson found some rhythm after trailing 2-5 in the second to level the set, the English player struck her 12th ace to save a break point when halting the run of games against her before clinching a big triumph.
Despite the loss, Gibson was measured when assessing a match in which her radar was slightly askew and her movement half a step slower as she tried to adjust to the power of her opponent in a match played indoors at Melbourne Park.
She conceded it was far different playing in the green and gold than for herself, that elements of her debut were special including having the home crowd behind her, and that it was an experience she would learn from.
“Obviously (it was) my first time playing a match in the Billie Jean King Cup for Australia, so there were obviously some nerves out there today,” she said.
“It is not the way I would have liked to have played, and not the result that I would have liked to have happened. But credit to Mika. She came out playing really well and served amazing. I did my best with you know what I was able to bring today, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”
Stojsavljevic is arguably more used to dealing with expectation. Identified as a rising star in England, this journalist has witnessed her handling experienced press packs from midway through her teens. There is also the underdog factor.
The English were semifinalists last year but have leant into the fact they are without some more established players and on the road for the tie, something Stojsavljevic said was a factor in her outstanding effort.
“We, of course, knew we that we were underdogs coming into this week but we have a great energy and, even today on the side of the court, I was just telling the team that I absolutely loved it,” she said.
“I just love having all the girls there and it feels like a bit of a family, to be honest. And I think we all believe in each other. We all know how well we can play.”
Tasked with squaring the tie against the 173rd ranked Dart, Birrell started well in a tight first set, with her backhand in particular holding up after her rival launched a mid-set challenge.
But the experienced Dart was crisper from the baseline from then on and overpowered the world No.8 to give the tourists the upper hand.
Australia’s hopes of staying alive in the tie rest on the ability of star doubles players Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez, who begin proceedings on Saturday, before the reverse singles are played if necessary.
Gibson, certainly, was hoping that would be the case, but Australia’s hopes of progressing to the finals in China in September are looking far less favourable than expected.
“There’s more matches to come, so if I needed to go back out there again tomorrow, then I’ll be ready to go again,” Gibson said.
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