ZCZC
BSP-04
TENNIS-FEDCUP-AUS-BLR-DRAW
Barty to face Azarenka in Fed Cup semi
BRISBANE, Australia, April 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – World number nine Ashleigh
Barty will face her doubles partner and two-time major winner Victoria
Azarenka in the Fed Cup semi-final between Australia and Belarus on Saturday.
The pair will contest the second singles match on the opening day at Pat
Rafter Arena in Brisbane as the home team targets Australia’s first final
since 1993.
Experienced former US Open champion Samantha Stosur was Australian captain
Alicia Molik’s surprise pick over Daria Gavrilova to open the tie against
world number 10 Aryna Sabalenka.
They play the reverse singles and a doubles on Sunday.
While Belarus are bidding to reach the final for the second time in three
attempts, having been beaten by the United States in 2017, Australia haven’t
made the decider in 26 years.
It’s been an even longer wait between titles, with Australia’s last
victory in 1974 when Evonne Goolagong led them to a 2-1 win over the
Americans.
Day 1
Singles
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) v Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Day 2
Singles
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Doubles
Ashleigh Barty/Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Lidziya Marozava/Vera Lapko (BLR)
BSS/AFP/SSS/1530 hrs