ITF

F E D C U P B Y B N P PA R I B A S F I N A L having remained unbeaten since 2017. As the tie unfolded, Tomljanovic, who was representing Australia for the first time, ensured the tie went the distance as she overpowered Pauline Parmentier in the fourth and final singles joust. Ultimately, however, Australia were unable to repel the united front of the Garcia-Mladenovic axis, leading the latter, who partnered Timea Babos to Grand Slam doubles glory in Paris in June, to reflect on the realisation of a childhood ambition. "It has been a long journey and it was my dream as a kid," said Mladenovic. "I gave so much personality for this achievement in my career. It was something I wanted, it was on the bucket list. "To play in front of 13,000 people, to beat the current world No.1 [Barty in the singles] and by far the best player in the world – she's been unplayable lately – was " To be able to be in the Fed Cup Final is something that is very precious." A S H L E I G H B A R T Y 20 ITFWorld // WINTER 2019/20 Barty levelled matters at 1-1 in the final with victory over Garcia in the singles Tomljanovic ensured the clash would be determined by the doubles after dispatching Parmentier hurdle of historic tensions and a drastically inferior head-to-head record to claim a memorable victory. Somewhat inevitably, the showdown was settled by the doubles and determined by the union, which was certainly more blissful than had previously been the case, between Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. It is no secret that relations within the French camp became strained when Garcia decided to skip Fed Cup duty in order concentrate on her "individual career" shortly after their defeat in the 2016 final. But with wounds seemingly healed, Garcia and Mladenovic hauled their nation over the finish line and onto the winner's podium courtesy of a 6-4 6-3 success against Australian duo Ashleigh Barty and Sam Stosur. Mladenovic proved the star turn and was in inspirational form all weekend, with victory alongside Garcia her third of the contest after singles success against Ajla Tomljanovic and Barty. Garcia told ITFWorld in the build up to the clash that previous pain from losing a final and the experience of that occasion could work in France's favour, especially given Australia's lack of such know-how. Perhaps that had a bearing, although it was not evident in Garcia's opening contribution – a 6-0 6-0 loss to Roland Garros champion Barty, who entered the fray with a fearsome Fed Cup reputation. Barty is the first player to contest and win the maximum number of matches en route to the final in the competition's current format after claiming clean sweeps during Australia's victories against USA and Belarus in earlier rounds. Thrashing Garcia elevated Barty's stock even further before a shuddering halt and defeat in three sets to Mladenovic, which ended her 16-match winning streak in the competition

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