23 April 2013 | Tennis Queensland

CAPTAIN Alicia Molik believes Queensland teenager Ashleigh Barty can help Australia give the Fed Cup title a serious shake next year.

Australia retained a place in the top tier of the competition with a 3-1 win over Switzerland in their rain-delayed World Group playoff in Chiasso this month. After two days of frustrating delays, Australia wrapped up the tie in one day on Monday, as Stosur scored two victories and Barty triumphed on her Fed Cup singles debut to secure a 3-1 win.

The impressive win on clay in Chiasso ensures Alicia Molik’s team will compete in the top eight for the second straight year in 2014. And judging by the performances of Stosur and the promising Barty, their prospects look bright.

With the tie locked at 1-1, Molik made the bold decision to name Barty for the reverse singles in place of Jarmila Gajdosova, who had lost her opening clash against top-ranked Swiss Romina Oprandi.

Barty, impressed in her first Fed Cup singles match, having previously only played in a doubles dead rubber. She showed no sign of nerves in a 6-3, 6-4 win over Swiss No.2 Stefanie Voegele, ranked 141 places higher at 56th in the world.

Molik predicted it was the beginning of something special for Australia.

“It’s incredible. Hopefully she’ll be doing this for the next 10-15 years, being part of the Fed Cup team, and now she’s had a taste,’’ Molik said.

“I look forward to the next Fed Cup tie too because she should expect to play and she should train like she is playing, which she has done this week.

With Samantha Stosur delivering with two wins and Molik encouraged by the contributions of Gajdosova and Casey Dellacqua in training, the captain is optimistic about next year.

Australia fought hard to earn promotion back to the World Group last year but were forced into the playoff after losing 4-0 in the first round to titleholders the Czech Republic in February.

The scoreline may have flattered the top-ranked Czechs, though, and Molik is convinced her team is capable of mixing it with the competition’s big guns.

“At our best, we can compete with the best couple of nations,’’ said Molik, who is in her first year as captain.

Stosur led Australia superbly, securing two straight-sets wins in the space of three-and-a-half hours as the rain-soaked tie was crammed into a day and matches were played simultaneously.

She wrapped up the tie with a 7-5 6-3 win over Oprandi after earlier crushing Voegele 6-0 6-4.

Importantly there were no signs of the lingering calf problem that has troubled her in recent weeks.

Follow all the post-tie coverage on Twitter at @TennisAustralia.