Barty sets up Fed Cup semis after beating US
BRISBANE’S Pat Rafter Arena will be put forward as the venue for a Fed Cup semifinal in which the Ash Bartypowered team will step up their bid to end Australia’s 45year drought in the women’s tennis competition.
A commanding 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 United States to enter 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 semi-final against Belarus, 4-0 winners over Germany.
“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it,’’ Barty said.
“We are still alive and we dare to dream. We are getting our teeth stuck into the competition.’’
Barty’s commanding 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 2all, Barty and fellow Queenslander Priscilla Hon clinched the tie with a 6-4, 7-5 doubles defeat of Americans Danielle Collins and Nicole Melichar.
Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley said TQ would be bidding to host the April 20-21 tie.