ITFWorld // SPRING 2019 23
FINAL
COUNTDOWN
Australia and France set a date for the Fed Cup by BNP
Paribas Final aer thrilling semifinal victories over
Belarus and Romania respectively. By Kate Battersby
PAY ATTENTION, CLASS. TODAY WE SHALL BE
REPRESENTING THE SEMIFINALS OF THE 2019
FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS AS A GRAPH,
where x = extraordinary quality and y = breathless thrills.
But on second thoughts we cannot actually do that,
because the boundless abundance of these two values at
each semifinal were so off the scale that no mere graph
could do them justice.
The outcome is that November's final will see
Australia host France, after each nation emerged from an
outrageously dramatic clash which went down to the wire
3-2. In Brisbane, seven-time champions Australia downed
Belarus to win through to the final for the first time since
1993; while Rouen witnessed hot favourites Romania fall to
France, twice winners of this competition.
To the Pat Rafter Arena first, where Ashleigh Barty
achieved a unique new landmark. She vanquished former
world No.1 Victoria Azarenka and then Aryna Sabalenka,
➝
Aryna Sabalenka had
given Belarus the
perfect start
Australia celebrate
their 3-2 victory
over Belarus
