Ashleigh Barty vs Quirine Lemoine: Fed Cup tennis live scores, blog

Ashleigh Barty levels Australia's Fed Cup tie with the Netherlands 1-1 with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Quirine Lemoine. "Coming away 1-1, that's a good day for us," Barty says. "I don't think it was a love and two scoreline at all. There were plenty of tough games. I think we're in a good position now for a big day tomorrow." It didn't ever feel like the smashing that it looks on paper, as Lemoine would often take games deep into deuce, both serving and receiving. But it seemed for every ripping left-handed forehand down the line, there were two unforced errors, and with Barty in fine form and hitting the lines regularly, that was always going to be crucial. Lemoine deserved to get off the mark in the second set, however, and then showed great pluck to break Barty when she was serving for the match, and then make the Aussie work hard for the win in the next game. Join us tomorrow for more Fed Cup action! We'll have Barty taking on Sam Stosur's conqueror, Lesley Kerkhove, and Stosur (or potentially Daria Gavrilova) will play Lemoine, before the doubles. Australia should be confident of taking the tie. Catch you then!

GAME, SET, MATCH BARTY Barty 6 6 Lemoine 0 2 It took a struggle, but Barty is victorious! Lemoine defends grimly as Barty clatters a series of powerful forehands her way, and eventually it's too much to handle as Lemoine nets her backhand. 0-15 Good wide serve from Lemoine and Barty can only net her backhand return. 15-15 This time Lemoine gets some luck on her side, she looks to curl a forehand away from Barty and it kisses the tape, lobs up and lands on Barty's side! 30-15 She's frustrated again, is Lemoine, and rightly so as she goes for a low-percentage forehand to the line and sends it wide. 30-30 Match point now for Barty as Lemoine nets her forehand, and the crowd rises to cheer! 30-40 But Lemoine saves it, a good wide serve that Barty's backhand can only net. I must say, she's not giving this match up without a hard fight. 40-40 Another match point for Barty, though, as Lemoine nets her forehand. 40-AD A first serve goes wide, but off the second, Barty sends her inside-out forehand wide looking for the lines! She just can't finish this match off. 40-40 And an ace now from Lemoine, wide and right into the corner, gives her game point! AD-40 A fault, and then a second, as both serves hit the net! Dear me. 40-40 A great skimming slice from Barty forces Lemoine wide and up to the net, and from there, a crunching inside-out forehand into open court secures Barty another match point! 40-AD Lemoine uses a challenge on a first serve, and it's good! Clips the far line, but the point has to be replayed. And it doesn't matter, Lemoine nets her backhand on the next point, and Barty has it!

GAME LEMOINE Barty 6 5 Lemoine 0 2 Lemoine breaks with Barty serving for the match! Barty crunches an inside-out forehand away that Lemoine can only net as Barty comes charging in for the volley. 15-0 Lemoine not giving in just yet; a good deep return on the backhand forces Barty to half-volley, and her return sails long. 15-15 Lemoine throwing everything at her here with some powerful returns, and eventually Barty mistimes a forehand and it sails well long. 15-30 Great tennis from Lemoine sets up a pair of break points; a great cross-court forehand forces Barty into the lob, and while she scurries back to retrieve, it sails long. 15-40 Barty saves one of them as a Lemoine backhand sails long, much to her chagrin. 30-40 And a double-fault concedes the break! Lemoine hanging on.

GAME BARTY Barty 6 5 Lemoine 0 1 Barty again has luck on her side, a sizzling forehand kisses the tape, lobs up, and gently touches down on Lemoine's side! Luck's a fortune. 0-15 Great stuff from Lemoine! She's played some cracking points today, finishing this one off with a sizzling cross-court backhand winner. Hard to believe that's the same side she's netted so many balls today. 15-15 Another soft finish to the point as Lemoine frustrated, she goes for a pretty slow forehand down the line but curls it out, and she looks to her players' box in bemusement. 15-30 Scorching wide return from Barty forces Lemoine to stretch on her backhand, and the southpaw's reciprocating cross-court backhand sails wide. Break points once more. 15-40 Too good from Barty, she forces Lemoine wide and deep with a cross-court backhand, and Lemoine's stretched lob sails long. Barty to serve for the match.

GAME BARTY Barty 6 4 Lemoine 0 1 Barty resumes normal service as a pair of crunchign groundstrokes force Lemoine onto the back foot, and eventually her backhand goes long and wide. 15-0 Another crunching Barty winner too good for Lemoine, this time an inside-out forehand into open court. 30-0 A good wide serve that Lemoine can't return, and suddenly it's 40-0! Too good from Barty, she slices and forces Lemoine deep, comes up to the net and bats away the volleyed return with ease!

GAME LEMOINE Barty 6 3 Lemoine 0 1 She's got one! Barty nets her attempted crunching forehand off the second serve. 15-0 Good wide serve forces Barty onto the back foot, she's eventually forced into a very short lob, Lemoine steps in and crunches away the smash with glee. 30-0 Now it's 40-0, and even the crowd cheer as Lemoine curls away a forehand winner. 40-0 And she's on the board! And she can smile about it, too, a good serve down the T that Barty can only return long. Finally. She's deserved it, too.

GAME BARTY Barty 6 3 Lemoine 0 0 A big cross-court winner gives Barty the perfect start. 15-0 Another double-fault! Her fifth of the match, and it's been about her only weakness today. 15-15 Barty still looking the goods if she can get her serves in, crunching an inside-out forehand into open court for the winner. 30-15 Lemoine goes for the lines with a sizzling forehand return, it lands right at Barty's feet but just misses the baseline. 40-15 Too good from Barty! Lemoine throws everything at her, including a sweeping forehand that looks to have the Aussie in trouble as she moves up to the net, but her volley into open court is up to the challenge! Nine games in a row for the Australian.

GAME BARTY Barty 6 2 Lemoine 0 0 Another break for Barty! Lemoine goes for a big backhand winner down the line, but can't control it and the ball sails well wide. 0-15 Now she errs on the cross-court backhand, sending it wide. Barty looking to attack that weak backhand as often as she can, particularly on the second serves. 0-30 Barty again looks to return to the backhand, but this time Lemoine holds her nerve and returns, and eventually Barty nets her forehand. 15-30 Good work from Lemoine, pins Barty to the crease before pushing up to the net, Barty goes for the lob but it goes long. 30-30 Lemoine's fought back well from 0-30 down, Barty looks for the baseline with her backhand but it lobs long. 40-30 Great stuff from both players as they fire some powerful groundstrokes and slices against each other in the longest rally of the match, but Barty holds on and eventually, Lemoine nets her backhand! She just can't get herself on the board. 40-40 How quickly it turns; from game point, now Barty has a break point after another error on the backhand from Lemoine. 40-AD And it's another break for Barty as Lemoine's cross-court forehand sails wide. You have to feel for her now; she's 6-0, 2-0 down, but she's actually played well!

GAME BARTY Barty 6 1 Lemoine 0 0 A wide serve forces the short stretched return from Lemoine, Barty steps in but nets her inside-out forehand. 0-15 Lemoine frustrated with herself as she nets her backhand again. 15-15 This time it's Barty's turn to err after some heavy groundstrokes are traded, as she goes for a cross-court forehand but sends it crashing into the net. 15-30 Good defence from Lemoine keeps her in the hunt after some big Barty hitting, but she goes for a drop shot out of nowhere and can't get it over the net. Think Barty had it covered, anyway. 30-30 Lemoine defends grimly as Barty peppers her baseline with powerful strokes, but eventually a stretched forehand goes slightly wide. 40-30 Barty sends Lemoine wide with a good serve, she has the court open for a cross-court forehand on the second shot but sends it slightly wide. 40-40 Lemoine absolutely crunches the second serve return with a big forehand, but it's too big, as it turns out, sailing slightly long. AD-40 Great stuff from Lemoine! Packs plenty of power into a bustling backhand that Barty can reach on the forehand wing, but not do much else with. 40-40 Now Lemoine has, out of nowhere, a break point as Barty's slice hits the net, lobs up...and lands on the Aussie's side! 40-AD But she can't get it as the pair trade slices that skim just over the top of the net, and eventually, Barty gets one to bounce lower and Lemoine can only slice into the net. 40-40 Barty allows herself a brief yell of "Come on" after crunching a big forehand winner down the line to relieve some pressure. AD-40 A double fault! Her fourth of the day as Barty sends her second serve long. 40-40 Another frustrating one for Lemoine as she holds her own against Barty's power, only to net an attempted cross-court backhand. Don't think her backhand is strong enough to be trying shots like that. AD-40 And after a struggle, Barty holds as a stretched backhand from Lemoine hits the net. Pretty much the game in a nutshell: Lemoine tries hard, but Barty holds her nerve at the big points. And yet, it's 6-0, 1-0.

If there's such a thing as a competitive bagel, that was it. Apart from a mid-set lull, Quirine Lemoine acquitted herself nicely, but there is a distinct gap in class, and Barty's power and precision to hit the lines regularly made all the difference.

GAME, FIRST SET BARTY Barty 6-0 Lemoine Barty has the bagel! How good's that from Barty? A brilliant top-spinning ball off the second serve that kisses the line and spins away, and Lemoine's stretched forehand can only send it wide. 0-15 Now an unforced error from Lemoine on the backhand side brings the set closer for Barty. 0-30 The Dutchwoman gets a point back as after a good rally, Barty nets her cross-court forehand attempt. 15-30 Close, but no cigar for Barty as she looks to put a cross-court backhand past Lemoine, but it's narrowly wide. 30-30 She's fought back well, has Lemoine, and a Barty return that smashes the net brings her game point. 40-30 She's still on zero, however, as an attempted forehand down the line goes wide and long. 40-40 Barty nets an attempted forehand down the line after a prolonged rally. AD-40 Back to deuce as Lemoine attempts to pin Barty to the baseline with some long sweeping groundstrokes, but eventually a forehand goes long. 40-40 Lemoine can't handle Barty's power on the forehand side, she tries to backhand down the line to force Barty onto the backhand wing, but can only net it. Set point now. 40-AD A fault increases the pressure, but then off the second, a short Barty return lets her step in and pummel a forehand nicely down the line! She's not going down without a fight. 40-40 But after doing so well to save the first, she immediately offers up a second break point as a weak backhand hits the net very low down. 40-AD Barty goes for a slice down the line, but it kisses the very top of the night and rebounds back to her side. 40-40 Lemoine goes for a cross-court forehand after a slow Barty slice, but nets it. Another set point. 40-AD And this time it's the set for Barty, as a good deep return from the Aussie forces Lemoine to half-volley, and she can only net her forehand return! Barty has a bagel, but it hasn't really felt like the gap was that big.

She was playing pretty well early, even getting a few break points in the first game, but Lemoine is fading fast, and Barty is only getting better. A bagel is on the cards.

GAME BARTY Barty 5-0 Lemoine This is turning into a bit of a rout! Barty challenges a first-serve fault but to no avail; it makes no difference as a tame Lemoine backhand off the second serve is netted. 15-0 Now a double-fault from Barty! Her third in an otherwise very good match. 15-15 Luck going against Lemoine now, her forehand down the line hits the tape and lobs up, Barty on it in a flash to crash a cross-court forehand away for the winner. 30-15 Now an ace sets up game point, a lovely one down the T. Her third of the match, if I'm not mistaken. 40-15 Too good from Barty! She forces Lemoine wide with a crunching backhand, then completely wrong-foots her opponent as she moves back into the middle of the court with the exact same shot for the winner!

GAME BARTY Barty 4-0 Netherlands Barty has the double-break! Deep return from Barty forces a half-volley from Lemoine that arcs into the net. 0-15 Slice return this time from Barty off a second serve, Lemoine goes for a cross-court backhand but just tamely hits it into the net. 0-30 Superb from Barty! Three break points now, and she's earned it as a superb cross-court forehand kisses the line bang on, and Lemoine can't do anything about it. 0-40 A good low return from the wide second serve from Barty forces Lemoine to come in, and low down, she nets her attempted chip up the line. Barty motoring along now, but Lemoine starting to sputter.

She started nervously, but Barty has really hit her groove now, and her power and precision are really troubling Lemoine, who's playing well, too.

GAME BARTY Barty 3-0 Lemoine Great start for Ash! Crowd begin to cheer as Barty nails a winner down the line. 15-0 Second double-fault now from Barty as her second serve hits the net. That's been something of a weakness for her throughout her career. 15-15 Barty hitting the lines nicely now, this time nailing a sizzling forehand into open court that Lemoine can't reach. 30-15 Super return from Lemoine! A second serve that the Dutchwoman nails right back to Barty's feet, and she can only parry a half-volley into the net. 30-30 Lemoine errs on this occasion as Barty forces her to play one more point with a defensive lob, and it's one too many as she just hammers it into the net. Barty gets a let-off. 40-30 Another unforced error hands Barty the game as Lemoine goes for the lines on a forehand but sends it wide.

GAME BARTY Barty 2-0 Lemoine Barty breaks! Lemoine quickly away as a Barty return goes long. 15-0 Now Lemoine errs as a forehand hits the net. 15-15 Barty forcing Lemoine deep into the court with some perfectly placed slices, Lemoine looks to respond and drive Barty deep but her return goes long. 15-30 Good wide serve forces Barty onto the backhand side, and her attempt to go up the line sails long. 30-30 The pair trade heavy groundstrokes back and forth before Lemoine loses a bit of patience, goes for the wide line with a forehand but it goes wide. Now break points for Barty. 30-40 Lemoine looks on top as she forces Barty into a defensive lob with a wide inside-out forehand, Barty guesses right on the smash but is off-balance and can only screech a backhand into the net. 40-40 Barty has Lemoine on the ropes with few wide strokes, Lemoine stops the rally after being forced into a high lob to challenge the call on the far side baseline, but it's in and Barty has another break point. 40-AD Barty now really into a rhythm, giving the ball some serious welly, but Lemoine holds on and returns everything back right to the baseline, and eventually Barty cracks as she sends her backhand long. Great defence from the Dutchwoman. 40-40 Swinging second serve down the T, Barty responds on the backhand side and Lemoine's forehand, for not the first time in these opening games, finds the net. Another break point chance. 40-AD Great stuff from Lemoine! She sends Barty wide with the inside-out forehand, Barty gets back, she goes for the drop shot but Barty gets there and goes cross-court, but Lemoine reads it nicely and volleys it away into open court! A great way to save a break point; some brilliance tennis early from both players. 40-40 Barty perhaps a little frustrated and goes for the instant winner off the second serve, but mistimes it badly and sends it waaaaay long. AD-40 But the double-fault brings it back to deuce, Lemoine looking for a shorter second serve but just tamely hits it into the net. 40-40 Superb stuff from Barty! A terrific cross-court forehand right to the lines, Lemoine has to stretch to get there and can only put back a high defensive lob, Barty comes into the net and clatters away the winner. 40-AD And she gets the break this time! She was hammering down the door, and she gets it as a lob to the baseline catches Lemoine on the hop coming in, she backs up and gets away the backhand return, but hits it into the net.

GAME BARTY Barty 1-0 Lemoine A struggle, but Barty holds. Barty starts with a fault, a wide serve next, Lemoine forces her way up to the net with some crunching groundstrokes, but then drops one a tad short and Barty wallops an inside-out forehand winner past her. 15-0 Barty forces the short return with a good wide serve, but she misses the line going for a cross-court forehand comfortably, well out. 15-15 A double-fault now as Barty sends her second serve into the net. 15-30 Lemoine lets Barty's innocuous second serve off the hook as she clumps a backhand into the net. 30-30 Good play from Barty, forces Lemoine deep into the court with some powerful hitting, and eventually Lemoine curls a backhand into the net. 40-30 Barty goes wide with the second serve, she moves well to cover Lemoine's swinging return, but her forehand is into the net. 40-40 Break points now for Lemoine as Barty sends a cross-court backhand well wide. A few nerves here early for the Aussie. 40-AD Great serve down the T after a let and Lemoine can't touch it. Great response, and the break point is saved. 40-40 The pair trade groundstrokes as Barty's slice proves tough to handle for Lemoine, but eventually Barty goes too wide with her backhand. Another break point chance. 40-AD Missed it! The break point was staring Lemoine in the face as a lovely wide stroke forces Barty to just lob back a return, she comes in with the court ahead of her and the Dutchwoman slams her forehand into the net! 40-40 Now it's Barty's turn to have a game point with a great serve down the T. AD-40 And some luck! Barty's backhand kisses the top of the net, lobs up, and lands just on Lemoine's side! Well done Barty, she's held her nerve and her serve.

Here we go. Barty to serve first.

Greetings, Roarers, and welcome to this second leg (tie? Fixture? Match? I'm going with leg) of Australia's battle with the Netherlands! And well, after that stunning upset in Game 1, where Sam Stosur was taken down in straight sets by World No. 210 Lesley Kerkhove, it's a vital one, too. Will be interesting to see how Ashleigh Barty deals with her left-handed opponent, Quirine Lemoine. Play only a few minutes away!