Australia beats Belarus 3-2 to face France in Fed Cup final

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australia advanced to the Fed Cup final for the first time in more than a quarter century after Ashleigh Barty and Samantha Stosur beat Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in a decisive doubles match Sunday.

Australia will play in the final for the first time since 1993, and will face France, which beat Romania 3-2 on clay at Rouen in the other semifinal.

Australia will host the Nov. 9-10 final.

Earlier Sunday, Azarenka beat Stosur in the second reverse singles 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes to even the match at 2-2 on a hard court at Pat Rafter Arena.

In the second set, Azarenka went ahead 3-1 when Stosur double-faulted to set up break point.

Azarenka’s win was met with loud cheers from the small but noisy group of Belarusian fans waving their country’s red and green flag.

In the day’s opening match, Barty beat Sabalenka 6-2, 6-2 to give Australia a 2-1 lead.

Barty is 20-3 in singles in 2019 and won the two-week Miami tournament. She made it to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and also won all three matches she played — two singles and doubles — in helping Australia beat the United States 3-2 in the previous round of the Fed Cup.

“I feel fortunate … to have the stage in April and we’ll get to share it again in November,” Barty said. “I don’t remember anyone talking about just making the final and I think that’s a good thing.”

On the first day, Barty beat regular doubles partner Azarenka 7-6 (2), 6-3 after Sabalenka had given Belarus a 1-0 lead with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 win over Stosur.

Barty’s win Saturday ended Azarenka’s 13-match winning streak in the Fed Cup.

It was the first Fed Cup meeting between the countries.