Back on the Billie Jean King Cup team, Arina Rodionova has attempted to turn the page on her brutal criticism of Tennis Australia (TA).
Rodionova was controversially passed over for a wildcard spot at the Australian Open in January, despite being the country’s top-ranked women’s player.
Rodionova claimed she was “not loved”saying TA would have been “happy” if she had been eliminated in the qualifying phase of her national grand slam.
But ahead of Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup match against Mexico in Brisbane this weekend, the 34-year-old attempted to play down her comments from three months ago.
“They are two very different things,” Rodionova said Tuesday of representing Australia and her criticism of TA.
“Ultimately I didn’t qualify (for the Australian Open) like I probably should have and I didn’t. So it’s my fault.
“If I want to give myself the opportunity to play on big courts, I should win more often. So I’m going to try to do that.”
Currently ranked 103rd in the world, Rodionova has been overtaken by her fellow Australian Daria Saville, currently 94th in the WTA rankings.
Rodionova reacted when asked about new Australian captain Sam Stosur’s involvement with TA.
“Sam has always been on my side, it wasn’t really his decision. I haven’t really had any conversations with anyone about it,” she said of her former national team-mate.
“At the Australian Open, I play for myself. Here, I represent the country, so I don’t see any correlation between these two events.
“Whatever happened in January, happened in January.
“I’m really happy to be part of the team again after a few years.”
Australia have not played a home game in the Billie Jean King Cup since 2019, when the competition was still known as the Federation Cup.
That year, Stosur, who was appointed in December 2023 to succeed Alicia Molik as Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, joined Ash Barty to lead nation to first final in 26 years.
Doubles ace Ellen Perez and teenage talent Taylah Preston have also been included for the April 12-13 match at Pat Rafter Arena.
PAA
