France sets up a Barty clash
AUSTRALIAN dominator Ash Barty is set to be the top ranked player in the home final of the Fed Cup.
France eliminated Romania headed by world No.2 Simona Halep with a 3-2 win in the other semi-final in the French city of Rouen yesterday.
Like Australia against Belarus at Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday, France won a decisive doubles rubber to make the final to be played in Australia on November 9-10.
France’s No.1 player is world No.21 Caroline Garcia and their other day-two singles player, Pauline Parmentier, is ranked No.53.
If the French cannot stop world No.9 Barty’s 14-match winning streak in Fed Cup singles and doubles, they cannot hope to prevent Australia winning a first title since 1974.
Australian captain Alicia Molik said it would be intriguing to see what ranking Barty, 22, was by November.
“I’ve loved watching Ash over the past 24 months, her ability to deal with diversity on the court and setbacks when things aren’t going her way,’’ Molik said.
“She loves the big occasion, the big stage.”