Fed Cup round-up: France, USA set showdown

Mladenovic leads France to victory

Kristina Mladenovic won three rubbers to send France’s Fed Cup team into the semifinals.

The world No.13 won both of her singles rubbers in straight sets, then combined with Amandine Hesse to beat Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens and Elise Mertens 6-4 2-6 6-2 in a deciding doubles rubber.

That feeling when you win three rubbers in a weekend for your nation.

???????????? Tip of the hat ????, @KikiMladenovic ????????

????????3?????2?????????#FedCup pic.twitter.com/I6jZ3uxf9C

— Fed Cup (@FedCup) February 11, 2018

Defending champions USA continue winning run

As Venus Williams contested a milestone 1000th career match and sister Serena Williams made her competitive return, it was business as usual for Team USA.

The Americans proved too strong for the Netherlands, winning 3-1.

“It was really special to be back out here with Venus and we’re so happy Team USA won today,”  Serena said after making her first Fed Cup doubles appearance with her sister since 2003.

Into the semis ???????????????? #TeamUSA #TeamAsics #TeamYonex #TeamEbix #TeamMasimo

A post shared by CoCo Vandeweghe (@cocovandey) on Feb 11, 2018 at 1:34pm PST

Germany edge Belarus 

Tatjana Maria and Anna-Lena Groenefeld combined to seal victory for Germany in a first round showdown with last year’s finalists Belarus.

The German combination overcome Aryna Sabalenka and Lidziya Marosava 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4 to seal a 3-2 victory.

"This is what you play tennis for"
???????? @Annagroenefeld #FedCup pic.twitter.com/ZFQ11ejMJV

— Fed Cup (@FedCup) February 11, 2018

Germany now plays the Czech Republic in the semifinals.

The Czech team, which has won five Fed Cup titles in the past seven years, defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the first round.

Petra Kvitova sealed victory with a 6-2 6-4 win over Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the third rubber.

World Group II action

Ashleigh Barty won three rubbers to seal victory for Australia in a first round showdown against the Ukraine.

Barty teamed with Casey Dellacqua, who was celebrating her 33rd birthday, to defeat Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok 6-3 6-4 in the deciding fifth rubber.

Earlier in the tie, 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk made an impressive debut to upset world No.25 Daria Gavrilova.

YES!!! ???????? WINNERS!!! On my birthday ???? with all my most special people in the entire world here with me. What a bloody good day ???????????? #fedcup #besttimes #canberra pic.twitter.com/ha9yYGhKvH

— caseydellacqua (@caseydellacqua) February 11, 2018

Italy, Romania and Slovakia also advanced to April’s World Group Play-offs.