Tennis’ elite women’s players, including world number one and fan-favourite, Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, have been welcomed to Perth ahead of this weekend’s clash between France and Australia, for the final of the 2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final.
Tourism Minister, Paul Papalia, addressed the Australian and French teams today at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, where the Fed Cup final official draw was conducted by former Australian tennis great, Todd Woodbridge.
The draw revealed the player match-ups for the Final, which will be held at RAC Arena.
The Fed Cup Final is supported by the State Government, through Tourism WA and has enticed tennis fans from around Australia to Perth to watch team Australia’s bid to clinch the nation’s first Fed Cup title in 45 years.
Ticket sales have sky-rocketed for the competition, driven by fans keen to see Ashleigh Barty, fresh from her historic WTA finals win in Shenzhen China, play for her country.
The enthusiastic response puts Perth on track to set a new attendance record for an Australian Fed Cup tie, with ticket sales currently more than double the previous attendance record of 9,554 set in April at the Fed Cup semi-final against Belarus in Brisbane.
Many more fans will have the opportunity to follow the Fed Cup action on television, with the Final broadcast Australia-wide and internationally in some of WA’s key tourism markets, including China, the USA, Japan and Germany.
Australia’s Fed Cup Final hopes rest on the shoulders of a team captained by Perth based Alicia Molik and spearheaded by Ashleigh Barty, with team-mates Ajla Tomljanović, Samantha Stosur, Astra Sharma and Priscilla Hon.
France’s squad, who will be aiming to secure their first Fed Cup win since 2003, has been named as Kristina Mladenovic, Caroline Garcia, Alize Cornet, Fiona Ferro and Pauline Parmentier. Former French men’s player, Julien Benneteau will captain the team.
The Fed Cup final draw results and player profiles can be found at https://www.fedcup.com/
As stated by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:
“I’m thrilled to welcome both the Australian and French teams and their supporters to Perth for what is shaping up to be a thrilling Fed Cup decider.
“We’ve got an all-star Australian team, including the world’s top women’s player, Ash Barty, right here in Perth, ready to make history and take the Fed Cup home for Australia for the first time since 1974.
“I look forward to all tennis fans turning out in force to RAC Arena over the weekend to cheer on the world’s best in women’s tennis as they battle it out for their country.
“Events like this are an opportunity to show visitors all the great things WA has to offer, including world-class sporting events, a vibrant city and spectacular natural surroundings.
“Television broadcast of the Final also gives us a global platform to promote our State and inspire people from all over the world to travel here.”
