BRISBANE, April 20, 2019
The scores are level at one-all after the first day of play in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinaltie in Brisbane, with record crowds flocking to Pat Rafter Arena to cheer on the Aussie team.
World No. 73 and Grand Slam Champion Samantha Stosur fought valiantly against world No. 10 Aryna Sabalenka, coming back to win the second set before going down 5-7, 7-5, 3-6 in a match that lasted nearly three hours.
Australian No.1 and world No.9 Ashleigh Barty proved her Fed Cup dominance once again, defeating two-time Grand Slam Champion Victoria Azarenka 7-6(2), 6-3. The encounter ended after one hour and 41 minutes.
Level up!@ashbar96 tops Azarenka 76(2) 63.
Australia 1: 1 Belarus at the end of day one.#FedCup pic.twitter.com/V08NfT4vN0
— Fed Cup (@FedCup) 20. April 2019
In the reverse singles on Sunday, Barty will play first against Belarus No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, with Stosur facing Victoria Azarenka. Barty and Stosur will team up for doubles against Belarussian pair Vera Lapko and Lidziya Marozava.
Attendance
The near capacity day one crowd of 5,126 at Pat Rafter Arena set an Australian record as the highest attendance ever at a Fed Cup tie in front of the home crowd.
Tickets
Single session tickets for Sunday are available now via www.ticketek.com.au/fedcup. Adult prices start at $30, concessions $25, kids $5 and family passes (two adults and two children) start at $65.
