Last year Ashleigh Barty was the rock Australia could rely on to win matches and get them into the Fed Cup World Group.

Embed from Getty Images
Photo: Ashleigh Barty of Australia reacts during her win over Madison Keys of USA during the first round of the 2019 Fed Cup at U.S. Cellular Center on February 09, 2019 in Asheville, North Carolina. Barty won 6-4, 6-1. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Against the US it was again Barty that won both her singles matches and then teamed up with Priscilla Hon to win the decisive doubles rubber.

Barty had earlier in the day defeated Madison Keys to put Australia up 2-1. Danielle Collins then got things back to 2-2 after defeating Daria Gavrilova.

The doubles were won by Australia 6-4, 7-5.

“When you’re playing with Australia written on your back, wearing the green and gold, it’s the best feeling, regardless if you’re home or away,” said Barty, beaming a smile. “These are the moments you remember for the rest of your life. You play a million matches on tour, but the best memories come from these Fed Cup weeks.”

Australia last reached the semis in 2014 which was the only time they reached that stage since the current Fed Cup format was introduced in 1995. The last victory was way back in 1974 when Australia defeated the USA 2-1.

“It’s been a long time between drinks, hasn’t it?” said Australian captain Alicia Molik. “I’m happy because this is such a youthful team.

“I’m incredibly proud,” Molik added. “The win, beating the USA, winning this tie, put that aside. I think what I’m proud of is not just their efforts but their commitment. Every player here has put their hand up incredibly early to play Fed Cup for Australia.”

Next up for Australia is Belarus. It will be a home tie played 20-21 April. The other semifinal sees France hosting Romania.

As expected USA and Australia came through day one of their World Group Fed Cup tie all level.

Ashleigh Barty got Australia off to a winning start with a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Sofia Kenin. Barty’s win improves her current Fed Cup match winning streak to nine and she now has a 7-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles matches. Barty’s only singles loss was at the hands of Ukraine’s Elena Svitolina in 2017.

Embed from Getty Images
Photo: Ashleigh Barty of Australia returns a shot to Sofia Kenin of USA during the first round of the 2019 Fed Cup at U.S. Cellular Center on February 09, 2019 in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The scoreline was closer than it should have been with Barty appearing to get a bit nervous when she first was able to serve for the match at 5-4, including a double-fault to surrender the break.

“I think I was all of two or three centimetres away from serving that out. Got a little bit patchy. “

“I think my response at 6-5 was the most pleasing thing, knowing I came back out straightaway, moved on, kept my spots on serve, got back in control,” Barty said.

2017 US Open finalist Madison Keys got the home team back on track after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. The American had too much power for the Australian.

Like Barty, Keys did not immediately close out the match when she had the opportunity, but it did not make much of a difference.

“I lost the game,” said Keys, of not serving out the match. “I didn’t play great. I kind of lost my focus. It happens. I bounced back right away, got the break and the win.”

The key match is first up on Sunday with the top two players facing each other in a match that could decide the tie. Keys and Barty have met one time before with the American winning a first-round match at the 2017 French Open.

After qualifying for the World Group in 2018 the Australian team was drawn to face the USA in the opening round.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 10 2018: Ashleigh Barty of Australia hitting a forehand in her singles match against Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine during the opening match of the Fed Cup tie between Australia and the Ukraine at the Canberra Tennis Centre on February 10, 2018 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Rob Keating/Keating Media)

This year, the USA is bidding to reach a third consecutive final having increased their title record to 18 with a win over Belarus in 2017, and losing to the Czech Republic last year.

USA hosts Australia on an indoor hardcourt at US Cellular Arena, Asheville, USA.

The opening rubber sees world no. 37 Sofia Kenin represents the USA against Australia’s world no. 13 Ashleigh Barty.

Next up is world no. 17 Madison Keys against Kimberly Birrell who is ranked at no. 157.

Both captains have not gone on rankings to select their singles lineups. The USA could have called on Danielle Collins who jumped up to no. 23 after reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open. Australia has Daria Gavrilova the world no. 47. Collins is being rested on the first day due to illness earlier in the week.

It makes sense to use Birrell ahead of Gavrilova as the higher ranked player is yet to win a match in 2019 where Birrell reached the third round at the Australian Open.

“I feel like I’ve had an awesome last month or so, few weeks,” Birrell said. “Six months really, I feel like I’ve been playing at a consistent level day in, day out. I think I really proved to myself, mainly, that this is the level I want to be at.”

“We’re going to take it one match at a time and not underestimate anybody,” USA’s captain Kathy Rinaldi told press before the tie. “We’re going to go out there, compete. We’re going to be a strong team, have each other’s backs, leave it all out on the court. That’s all I can ask as the captain.”

Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins will have a day off on Saturday due to feeling “under the weather” earlier in the week.

“Feeling fine now,” she assured reporters. “Hopefully this will give me another day of recovery and be ready to go on Sunday. I had a great start to the year. Hope that I can help contribute to the team in every way possible. Yeah, just grateful to have a healthy start to the year, to have had a good run in Australia.”

Based on recent form you would expect to see a 1-1 result come from the first days play with Barty defeating Kenin and Keys getting the better of Birrell. But the pressure of performing for your country can affect players in different ways, some crumble under the pressure, while others thrive.

Barty stood tall in 2018 as she won all of her singles matches and teamed up with Casey Dellacqua in the deciding doubles match against Ukraine a year ago.

“It would be amazing,” said Australian captain Alicia Molik, of the possibility of coming away from this weekend with a win. “We want that reward because we’ve worked so hard the last four or five years to get back to the World Group. We feel, and we believe, that we are a team good enough to be there consistently.

“We want to leave everything out on the court. We don’t want to leave Asheville with any regrets.”