Dominikovic to shoulder load

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2002

Sportal

Evie Dominikovic faces a busy weekend after she was named to play both singles matches and the doubles in the Federation Cup qualifying tie against the Netherlands in Wollongong.

The 22-year-old will meet Dutch No.1 Miriam Oremans in the opening singles match on Saturday, before meeting Kristie Boogart in the reverse singles on Sunday.

She will also partner Rennae Stubbs in the doubles for the match against the Olympic silver medal pairing of Oremans and Boogart.

"That's what I'm here for, to do the job," Dominikovic said. "I'm pretty happy with the way I've been hitting the ball in the last couple of days and I'm really looking forward to the weekend coming up.

"I think I've got a great chance to put the team up 1-nil. I'm quite excited. Oremans is a very experienced Fed Cup player but over the years her ranking has dropped. Evie's been hitting the ball very well and serving very well."

Australian No.2 Alicia Molik will play the other two singles matches.

Team captain Evonne Goolagong-Cawley has until an hour before the doubles match to make a change to the line-up.

Australia must win the tie to retain its place in the 16-team World Group for next year’s Federation Cup. Defeat would leave Australia battling it out in the Asian first division in 2003.

"It's a nice position to say 'we're the underdogs', but they're very experienced Fed Cup players," Goolagong-Cawley said. "On paper, with the rankings, we should be the winners.

"The girls feel very settled on this surface and I just honestly believe if our team plays to the top of their tennis, we've got a good chance of going through."

Draw

SATURDAY
Opening singles
Evie Dominikovic (AUS) v Miriam Oremans (NED)
Alicia Molik (AUS) v Kristie Boogart (NED)

SUNDAY
Reverse singles
Alicia Molik (AUS) v Miriam Oremans (NED)
Evie Dominikovic (AUS) v Kristie Boogart (NED)

Doubles
Evie Dominikovic/Rennae Stubbs (AUS) v Miriam Oremans/Kristie Boogart (NED)

Come on Australia:bounce:

evie is by far the best player to go up against Oremans, Oremans can be crafty and awkward to play against and u need a lot of patience. I dont think Wheeler would have been patient enough. Maybe Wheeler for the second singles though against boogert :o

I think they should have played a Wheeler/Stubbs doubles team. Christina's a really talented doubles player - better than Evie in my opinion.

Im so nervous :o hehe

I really hope Evie comes through, this would be fantastic for her! I know how disappointed she must have been after she was dropped against Belgium, so now is the chance to prove her worth!

saki...yes, I agree Christina is a very fine doubles player (I think she'll have bigger success in doubles in the future), but Evonne has obviously gone with the rankings and Evie has a much higher doubles rank at this stage. We'll see how it all unfolds I guess.

Come on Aussies!!!!!!!!!!

i think the Aussies are asking for it by playing indoors

Miriam Oremans if she can do it anywhere other than on the grass its indoors
and the same goes for Boogie.