The Achilles injury that ruled Sam Stosur out of Australia's shock 4-1 Fed Cup world group play-off loss to the Netherlands is not expected to affect her French Open chances.
The world No.24 has had indifferent form in 2015 and was desperate to get match time against the Dutch in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Sam Stosur's plans for the French Open will not be affected by the injury she sustained in the Fed Cup.Credit: Getty Images
But not only was she unable to take the court, she had to watch as her teammates were eliminated from the competition.
Despite the setback, Australian captain Alicia Molik says Stosur's plans for the French Open, which starts on May 24, will not be affected. While many of the world's top players will descend on Stuttgart in Germany for a claycourt WTA tournament, Stosur will opt for rest and recuperation.
"I don't think it will hinder her French Open preparations," Molik said. "I know for a fact that Sam is going to take the majority of this coming week completely off tennis – that's what her Achilles needs.
"She plays a physical game and on clay you need to be 100 per cent with your movements."
Molik lamented the timing of the injury flare-up, but said it had been Stosur's decision to pull out of her two singles matches this weekend.
"Her body wasn't responding as it should have been when she was put through her fitness test," Molik said. "It just goes to show how important it is to have your No.1 player in action, which is Sam."
Australia's stunning loss left the team shell-shocked.
The 4-1 defeat, including losses in both the reverse singles on Sunday as well as a dead-rubber doubles match, condemns Molik's team to the second-tier world group II from next season. After Casey Dellacqua succumbed to Dutch No.1 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).
"I'm feeling pretty deflated, really," Molik said. "It's one of those ones that got away that should never have. It's a big setback because we pride ourselves on being one of the top nations."
It is the Netherlands' seventh consecutive victorious tie and ends a world group exile that dates back to 1998. On paper it appeared a mismatch, with a strong Australian team boasting three players in the world's top 50 compared with No.86 Bertens the sole Dutch representative in the top 100.
Australia's 2016 campaign will start in February.
AAP