Australia powered into its first Fed Cup final since 1993 on Sunday with Ashleigh Barty and Samantha Stosur clinching the deciding fifth rubber in Brisbane against Belarusian pair Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka.
Their battling 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win set up a title match against either France or Romania in November.
The tie was sent into the crucial doubles match after Azarenka crushed Stosur 6-1, 6-1 in the reverse singles, following Barty sweeping past Sabalenka 6-2, 6-2.
Belarus, a losing finalist in 2017, was scheduled to pit Lidziya Marozava and Vera Lapko against the Australian duo, who were playing together for the first time.
But with so much on the line team captain Tatiana Poutchek opted instead for the more accomplished pairing.
But they fell short to give seven-time champions Australia a crack at its first title since last winning in 1974.
“I could not have picked two more perfect athletes to compete. Ash and Sam are superstars,” said elated Australian captain Alicia Molik.
Super exciting
Barty called making the final “unbelievable” while Stosur said it was “super exciting”.
“We knew it was going to be a tough one and we just so happy with how we played,” added Stosur. “All the girls have worked so hard throughout the year and we really stick together.”
“A really clean match today. I stuck to my game plan well and was able to execute under pressure,” said Barty, who is now on a 13-match Fed Cup winning streak.
“It was about either we stay and fight for another match or go home,” said Azarenka. “So I was very focused.”
