Stojsavljevic, 17, set for Billie Jean King Cup debut

At just 17 years old, Mika Stojsavljevic will make her debut in the Billie Jean King Cup as part of Great Britain’s team in this week’s qualifier against Australia. The 2024 US Open junior champion is set to face Talia Gibson, a player ranked over 200 spots higher, in the opening singles match of the best-of-five tie in Melbourne.

“It means everything to me,” Stojsavljevic shared with the LTA. “I’m very excited to be here and really enjoyed the first couple of days with the team. I still remember where I was when I got the call—I had just finished in the gym when Anne Keothavong, the captain, reached out. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. I had been told there was a chance, but when I got the confirmation, I was over the moon.”

Stojsavljevic, a graduate of the LTA’s National Academy in Loughborough, is currently studying English Literature and Politics at A-Level while competing on the ITF World Tennis Tour. Her early success last autumn included three consecutive finals, with highlights such as a runner-up finish at a $35,000 event in Tunisia, followed by a tournament win in Birmingham and a final appearance at a $100,000 event in Wrexham. The world number 275 was named in the original team but saw her chances grow when Sonay Kartal withdrew due to a back injury.

Great Britain’s squad now faces a challenging scenario, as the absence of Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Fran Jones, and Kartal leaves them as heavy underdogs. The winners of the qualifier will advance to the September finals in Shenzhen, while the losers will compete in a November play-off. The match schedule includes Harriet Dart vs. Kimberly Birrell on Friday, with doubles and two reverse singles on Saturday.

Saturday’s doubles match, held at the John Cain Arena in Melbourne Park, will see Australia’s Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez take on Dart and Jodie Burrage. Captains may adjust lineups up to an hour before play begins. The reverse singles are expected to feature Dart against Gibson, with a potential deciding rubber between Stojsavljevic and Birrell. Katie Swan is also in Melbourne with the British team, and Australia has Emerson Jones, a 17-year-old player, as their fifth squad member.

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