BID TO HOST CUP SEMI SHOWDOWN
BRISBANE’S Pat Rafter Arena will be put forward as a venue for a Fed Cup semifinal in which the Ash Bartypowered team will step up their bid to end Australia’s 45-year drought in the women’s tennis competition.
Barty won all six sets she played in two singles matches and one doubles encounter as Australia took a 3-2 decision from their Fed Cup tie against the US to progress to the semi-finals for the first time since 2014.
Barty’s mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley was in the last Australian team to win the Fed Cup, in 1974, and Australia will have the home advantage in an Easter semifinal against Belarus, 4-0 winners over Germany.
“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?’’ Barty said from Asheville, North Carolina.
“We are still alive and we dare to dream.
“We are getting our teeth stuck into the competition.’’
Barty’s 6-4, 6-1 win over 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys in the third rubber confirmed what a factor she now is against the elite she will meet during a four-tournament hardcourt swing which starts this week in Doha.
With the tie later locked 2-2, Barty and fellow Queenslander Priscilla Hon clinched the tie with a 6-4, 7-5 doubles defeat of Americans Danielle Collins and Nicole Melichar.
“Fed Cup are very special weeks and I’m happy to have played some of my best tennis today,’’ Barty said.
“I said to Pri, to all the girls after the match, ‘How good is Fed Cup? How good is it playing for Australia?’. These are the moments you remember for the rest of your life.’’
Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley said details about the semi were yet to be sent to state associations but TQ would be bidding to host the April 20-21 tie.
“All three Queenslanders – Ash, Priscilla and Kim (Birrell) – played in this tie and with any luck we can host the semi-final,’’ Handley said.