Australia’s stunning Fed Cup World Group playoff loss to the Netherlands has left the team shellshocked and searching for answers. The 4-1 defeat, including losses in both the reverse singles on Sunday as well as a dead rubber doubles match, condemns Alicia Molik’s team to the second-tier World Group II from next season.
After Casey Dellacqua, filling in for the injured Sam Stosur (Achilles), succumbed to Dutch No1 Kiki Bertens, Jarmila Gajdosova crumbled 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 to lowly ranked Arantxa Rus. Later, the doubles pairing of Dellacqua and Olivia Rogowska went down 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) in the dead rubber, confirming Australia’s exit from the World Group for the first time since 2012.