Her grand slam season may not have finished with a bang but Ashleigh Barty is already planning her dream climax to a triumphant 2019 campaign.
Barty says leading Australia to a first Fed Cup title in 45 years would be the perfect way to crown a season in which she captured her maiden grand slam title, rose to world No.1 and achieved milestones at all four majors.
Unbeaten in singles and doubles in the prestigious teams event this year, Barty has put her hand up for dual roles in the final against France in Perth on November 9-10.
“I am very pumped. Probably for the first time in my career, I have actually had an end date for my season, which is really exciting,” Barty said after her US Open title assault ended in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
“To be able to finish off playing for your country in the last week of the year is really cool.
“It’s been a long time coming for us girls, trying to get into a Fed Cup final, so we are really excited it is at home in Australia as well.
“I know it’s expected that the crowd is going to be enormous.
“I know Perth is going to be close to full, so hopefully we can fill it and finish off the season really well.”
Captain Alicia Molik has somewhat of a selection dilemma deciding on a second singles player to back up French Open champion Barty – who lost to Qiang Wang 6-2 6-4 in New York.
With regular No.2 Daria Gavrilova battling a chronic foot injury, Molik used veteran former US Open champion Samantha Stosur in the semi-final win over Belarus.
Gavrilova plans on playing through the pain barrier during the Asian swing in a bid to prove to Molik she’s worthy while Barty would also trust a rising star like Lizette Cabrera or Priscilla Hon to get the job done.
“Mol has a tough decision for all four or five players,” Barty said.
“Whoever she chooses, I still think there is a bit of time left in the season for girls to try and grab their spots.
“And I know that I also have to try to do everything I can to try to make sure I keep my spot and obviously push as hard as I can to try and lead and do the best that I can.
“We have a great group of young girls coming through.
“We have seen a little bit of Priscilla and Lizette was really close to qualifying here (in New York for the main draw).
“Astra Sharma played a good first round.
“It was just not quite meant to be for them here, so we have options, so hopefully whoever the team that we put together does well.”
