Fed Cup: Australia and USA tied one-all as Ash Barty and Madison Keys dominate

Lucie Bertoldo

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Fed Cup: Australia and USA tied one-all as Ash Barty and Madison Keys dominate image

Australia and the US will head into the second day of the Federation Cup tie at an even playing field after wins for Ash Barty and Madison Keys.

The opening rubber was all about Australia's Ash Barty who dominated 6-1 7-6(2) over Sofia Kenin at the US Cellular Center on Sunday morning.

Slamming 10 aces and winning 91 per cent of points on first serve, the Australian Open quarterfinalist comfortably put the visitors ahead within 79 minutes.

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"It’s always a bonus going up 1-0, knowing you’ve kind of got your foot in the door a little bit," Barty said following the match.

“I think it was important for me to start well.

"Regardless of what was happening during the match, it was important for me to start well, try to set the tone early, put pressure on her straight away.”


World No.17 Madison Keys quickly levelled the field after she defeated 20-year-old Kimberly Birrell 6-2 6-2 in just over an hour.

Breaking Birrell's first service to lead 2-0, Keys dictated the match infront of the boisterous North Carolina crowd, with 16 winners to the Australians' six.

“She’s been inside the top 20 for a long time now,” said Birrell after the match.

“She goes deep in Slams. There’s a reason for that. I think she’s a really great player.

“I think she’s played really well today. I did as best as I could. But yeah, the weight behind her shot was definitely different to anything I’ve really felt before. I’m just going to take it as another experience.”

The victory sees the nations going into the second day tied one-all with three matches remaining. 


World No.13 Barty will play two of the three remaining rubbers, including singles clash against Keys. The blockbuster between the Top 20 ranked players could determine which nations heads into the World Group semi-finals.

“No pressure at all,” Barty said.

“For me it is an opportunity to go out there and play for my country and enjoy the fact I have the privilege of putting on the green and gold and wearing Australia on my back.”

The pair have only played each other once before at the 2017 French Open, where Keys won in straight sets.

However, Australian team captain Alicia Molik believes that Keys could topple under pressure.

“That’s what you want on day two - the number ones going at it,” Molik said.

“It’s going to be really interesting. I think they’re both going to really push and stretch each other.

“You have two big hitters, heavy ball strikers. I think that’s the first thing that stands out.

"(But) there’s a lot riding on the shoulders of Keys. She’s the star of (American) team."

The 2019 Federation Cup is the first time that Australia has played in the world group since 2015. The winner of the USA-Australia tie will progress to the semi-finals in April, where they will face either Belarus or Germany.

USA v AUSTRALIA DRAW

Sunday February 10

5.00 am AEDT: Ashleigh Barty def. Sofia Kenin 6-1 7-6(2)

Followed by Madison Keys def. Kimberly Birrell 6-2 6-2

Monday February 11

5:00am AEDT: Ash Barty vs Madison Keys 

Followed by Kimberly Birrell vs Sofia Kenin 

Followed by Ash Barty / Daria Gavrilova vs Danielle Collins / Nicole Melichar 

Lucie Bertoldo