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Ashleigh Barty has built on her outstanding Australian Open form by helping Australia to victory over the United States in their Fed Cup world group tie in Asheville, North Carolina.
- Ashleigh Barty won her two singles rubbers, as well as the doubles with Priscilla Hon
- Barty was playing in the Fed Cup on the back of her Australian Open quarter-final appearance
- Australia's win sets up a Fed Cup semi-final with Belarus
Barty, an Australian Open quarter-finalist, and Priscilla Hon combined for a tense doubles victory, the pair beating Nicole Melichar and Danielle Collins 6-4, 7-5 to clinch the tie 3-2 and set up a semi-final clash with Belarus in April.
It is the first time Australia has made the Fed Cup semi-finals since 2014.
Australia and the US had started the final day of the tie locked at 1-1, before Barty fired the visitors into the lead when she defeated Madison Keys 6-4, 6-1.
Collins hit back with a dogged win over Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the day's second singles rubber to even the tie prior to the decisive doubles clash.
"We've had a hell of a weekend and there's absolutely nothing better than coming out and playing a live tie for your country," Barty said.
Barty, ranked 13 in the world, also won her singles rubber on the opening day of the tie when she defeated Sofia Kenin 6-1, 7-6 (7-2).
"It's just an amazing feeling, the whole week, between our players, our staff, we couldn't ask for more," Australia captain Alicia Molik said.
The location of the semi-final will be decided by a coin toss, as Australia and Belarus are yet to play each other in the Fed Cup.
The other semi-final will be France against Romania.
Australia is a seven-time Fed Cup champion but has not lifted the trophy since 1974.
AAP/ABC
Topics: sport, tennis, united-states