Elite women's tennis will continue in Western Australia after Perth was chosen to host the final of the Fed Cup competition this summer, beating bids from Melbourne and Brisbane.
The demise of the Hopman Cup — a mixed doubles round robin event — in favour of the men's $20 million ATP World Cup had left a cloud hanging over the future of women's tennis in the state.
But securing the final, to be played between Australia and France, ensured women's tennis would remain in Perth for at least this year.
World number two Ashleigh Barty will lead Team Australia when it plays France in the two-day event on November 9 and 10, the first time WA has hosted the final since 1971.
Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the state was set to see its biggest year in sport on record, expecting the event to attract more interstate as well as international visitors to Perth.
"We've got the NRL second State of Origin [game], we got the Bledisloe Cup, we've got Manchester United … all within about a month and a half of each other this winter," he said.
"What this provides tennis fans in Perth is the very best in women's tennis.
"A great opportunity for people to get there and see the best players in the world."
'Victoria wanted this badly'
Mr Papalia said while it was a major win for tourism in WA, it was a competitive process to secure the event.
"People should understand this is highly desirable," he said.
"Victoria wanted this badly, [but] the Western Australian Government was determined that we would have top-tier women's tennis in Perth this year, and we've got the Fed Cup."
The Fed Cup is the women's equivalent of the Davis Cup, a so-called World Cup of Tennis event.
The United States and the Czech Republic have won the past five events between them, with Australia's seven championships coming in the 1960s and 70s. The last was in 1974.
The last time Australia made a final was 1993, and the last time it was hosted Down Under was in 1988, when Czechoslovakia defeated the USSR at Flinders Park in Melbourne.
