Barty opts out of Australia team for BJK Cup finals

SYDNEY: A return to court for Ash Barty this season looked less likely on Tuesday after the world number one was omitted from Australia's team for next month's Billie Jean King Cup finals in Prague.

The Wimbledon champion, who returned to Australia after a third-round exit at the U.S. Open in September, led her country to the final of the last completed edition of the Fed Cup in 2019.

The women's team tournament was cancelled because of the global health crisis last year and subsequently renamed in honour of American trailblazer King.