Perth (Australia) (AFP)
Kristina Mladenovic, tricolor N.1 and all her halo of her title at the Women's Doubles Masters, enters the finals of the Fed Cup this weekend against Australia in Perth with the "super vibes" of the Hopman Cup she won in January 2017.
"From my first steps on the courts yesterday (Tuesday), have brought me great memories and great vibes," said the French Wednesday to reporters. She was associated with Richard Gasquet to win nearly three years ago the national team exhibition that has long opened for many players the season just days from the Australian Open.
The Hopman Cup has been replaced since 2020 by the ATP Cup, an official men's competition, which is heavily endowed both financially and in points for the world ranking.
"It's certainly an advantage to know the court and have won in the past," said Mladenovic (40th world) who will try, with Caroline Garcia (45th), Alizé Cornet (60th), Fiona Ferro (63rd) ) and Pauline Parmentier (122) to offer France its third Fed Cup, after 1997 and 2003, Saturday and Sunday.
"When you've won a tough competition somewhere, the place is still a nice place where you feel confident and where you feel able to rewrite the same story," she added.
But in front there will be a team from Australia who, in addition to playing at home, will have at its head the world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, winner at Roland Garros and full of confidence after his title at the Women's Masters last week .
Cornet also won the Hopman Cup, paired with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2014, while Garcia played in 2016 when Australia won.
Australia has won the Fed Cup seven times (the last in 1974) and leads 5 wins to 1 against France in this competition. But the French won the last confrontation in 2000.
And according to Mladenovic, the Tricolores will have the advantage of the experience since Garcia, Cornet and she played the final in 2016 lost against the Czech Republic (3-2). Parmentier was part of the team but had not been aligned.
"Even if it was at home, I still think it's a big advantage to know what it's like to be there with all this pressure," she said, saying "optimistic".
© 2019 AFP