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2019 Fed Cup semi-final, Rubber 2 Australia vs Belarus Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane Ashleigh Barty (Australia) vs Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) |
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Ashleigh Barty will look to continue her strong 2019 as she spearheads Australia’s Fed Cup team in what will be a crucial second rubber against Victoria Azarenka. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 4pm (AEDT).
Barty has made an outstanding start to the season in 2019, and while she is still looking for a grand slam breakthrough, she comes into this Fed Cup tie on the back of a tournament victory in Miami.
It’s not inconceivable, given her form, and that of the rest of the Aussie team, that Barty will again need to win all three of her matches for Australia to advance, as she did in an away tie against the USA earlier this year.
The run in Miami saw Barty drop just two sets, with the, while she beat the woman who knocked her out at the Australian Open – Petra Kvitova – in the quarter-finals, and then breezed past the powerful Petra Kvitova in the final.
Barty, who is ranked just outside the top ten in the world, has excellent court movement and will be looking to put that to good use against Azarenka.
This is shaping as an excellent match as well, with Azarenka also in good form.
She should be full of confidence after making the final of her last tournament in Monterrey, where she fell to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in the final.
Her hard court form is not quite as good though, with the Belarussian falling in the second round of both Indian Wells and Miami, and while she is experienced and does have some prior strong results on hard courts, she may struggle to go with Barty on this surface in her current form, despite it traditionally being her best.
The 29-year-old has never quite made it back to the top of the sport after injury ruined her 2017 season, and being able to position properly against the talent and tennis IQ of Barty will be a major struggle.
Prediction
The Australian has been in fine form, and while Azarenka will probably push her all the way to the post, the home crowd should get Barty over the line in what will be a crucial win for the Aussies as they look to qualify for the Fed Cup final for the first time since 1993.
Barty in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the second rubber at the Fed Cup semi-finals between Australia and Belarus from around 4pm (AEDT), or at the completion of the first rubber between Samantha Stosur and Aryna Sabalenka, and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: Around 4pm (AEDT)
Venue: Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane
TV: Live, 9Gem
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Australia $1.87, Belarus $1.87
Overall record: Played 1, Azarenka 1, Barty 0
Last meeting: 2018 Tokyo Open 1st round – Azarenka defeat Barty 6-4, 6-2
Ashleigh Barty last 10 matches: won 7, lost 3
Victoria Azarenka last 10 matches: won 6, lost 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Another big day for Ash Barty coming up, hopefully similar to what she did a couple of months ago against the USA
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage of Day 1 at the 2019 Fed Cup semi-finals as Australia and Belarus share the spoils, locked at one a piece. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back from 1pm (AEDT) tomorrow, and will be with you for as long as the tie is live, so be sure to join us then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on Day 1 of this Fed Cup semi-final Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that's been an outstanding day of tennis on Pat Rafter Arena, with Australia and Belarus level at one-all after the first day of action. Of course, earlier, Aryna Sabalenka got the better of Samantha Stosur in a nearly three-hour, three-set epic, and now, Ashleigh Barty at her clinical best to get the better of Victoria Azarenka. We have now at least two live rubbers tomorrow. Barty is due up on court first up against Sabalenka, then it's Stosur and Azarenka. Hard to see a change in that first match, but both Aliaksandra Sasnovic and Daria Gavrilova could be subbed in for the second singles, then, it'll be doubles if need be. Barty......... 7 5 Azarenka... 6 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, ASHLEIGH BARTY Wide serve returned on the backhand then from Barty, and it's a long grinding rally this time, but that will be the end! Barty has the tie level at one a piece for Australia as Azarenka nets a backhand to end a stunningly good day of tennis on the Pat Rafter Arena. Barty......... 7 6 Azarenka... 6 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, and then Barty is on the run at the back of the court. She gets to the drive volley though, making an incredible lob pass to bring up another match point. Barty......... 7 5 - AD Azarenka... 6 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here is the second of those match points, and it's Barty dealing with power throughout the early part of a long rally, before she slices off the ground into the net. Barty......... 7 5 - Azarenka... 6 3 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
There might be some nerves there for Barty. Horrendous backhand up the line now. Barty......... 7 5 - 40 Azarenka... 6 3 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Two match points for Barty! Great patience on the forehands in that point, before she got to the baseline, cracked one, and Azarenka nets. Barty......... 7 5 - 40 Azarenka... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Azarenka. The second is returned on the backhand and Azarenka then comes to the net, making an incredible overhead volley from well behind her. Unbelievable. Barty......... 7 5 - 30 Azarenka... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Barty! Huge! She is just defending with the slices out of the backhand corner, then catches the sideline as Azarenka comes to net. Incredible shot. Barty......... 7 5 - 30 Azarenka... 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Azarenka serving to keep the match going now. Barty with some good defence after getting the serve in here, then Azarenka misses down the line. Barty......... 7 5 - 15 Azarenka... 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Huge serve! Catches the centre service line, Azarenka can't return, and the Aussie is just a game away from having this tie one-all. Barty......... 7 5 - Azarenka... 6 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Barty, then Azarenka gets the second back in well. Barty......... 7 4 - 40 Azarenka... 6 3 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, returned long. Great work from Barty here. Barty......... 7 4 - 40 Azarenka... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great wide serve on a short angle, and Azarenka can't clear the net on the stabbed forehand return. Barty......... 7 4 - 30 Azarenka... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Azarenka up to the net now and she puts away a smash. Barty......... 7 4 - 15 Azarenka... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Barty goes wide. Barty......... 7 4 - 15 Azarenka... 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Azarenka serves out wide and holds to 15 with Barty unable to get the forehand return back in this time. Set and a break still for Barty, who just needs to hold twice for the victory. Barty......... 7 4 - Azarenka... 6 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Azarenka fires out wide. Barty......... 7 4 - 15 Azarenka... 6 2 - 40