IT was the most dramatic day of the Fed Cup fantasy tennis tournament so far with reigning champions, France out of the running after losing to an impressive Russian outfit on day five. Meanwhile in the second tie, it took all three matches to decide a winner with not much difference between the nations, but Australia advanced through to the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Belarus.

RUSSIA (2) defeated FRANCE (0)

With the match being the final one of the group stage, it was decided prior that if a nation went 2-0 up then the doubles would be scrapped. That is exactly what happened with the Russians getting the job done in two. The in-form Ekaterina Alexandrova had a massive tussle with last year’s Fed Cup saviour, Kristina Mladenovic and it proved form is a better indicator than history with Alexandrova, winning 6-2 1-6 6-4. The Russian talent started strongly winning the first four games, before Mladenovic won the next two to reduce the deficit back to a break. Despite this, Alexandrova picked up the bid again to win the next three games – the set 6-2 and the opening game of the second set. Something clicked in Mladenovic from then though, as the Frenchwoman went on a six-game tear to dominate the second set and level the match at a set apiece. The deciding set was even with ebbs and flows, as Alexandrova led 3-1 and then Mladenovic took the lead 4-3. It was how the best player finished though, with the world number 27 winning the final three games of the match to hand her nation the early lead in the tie.

The crucial win helped Russia gain the advantage with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova heading into the second match as favourite against experienced Frenchwoman, Caroline Garcia. It all seemed to be going to plan early for the Russian, leading 3-1 and then 5-3, before a crucial break from Garcia extended the first set, before Pavlyuchenkova won a huge break game and took out the set, 7-5. From there it was all Pavlyuchenkova as she won five consecutive games after being 1-1 in the second set to take out the match 7-5 6-1. It meant the reigning champions would be bundled out of the competition and Russia would go on to play the winner of the Czech Republic and Germany in the semi-finals.

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) defeated Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-2 1-6 6-4
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) defeated Caroline Garcia (FRA) 7-5 6-1

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AUSTRALIA (2) defeated BELARUS (1)

Anticipated as an equally huge match-up, all three matches between Australia and Belarus ended up straight sets, but far from one-sided. World number one Ash Barty knew the importance of winning her match but Aryna Sabalenka would be no pushover ranked just 10 places lower. It seemed to be a Barty party early with the dual sportsperson winning the opening four games and racing to a 5-1 lead. Sabalenka refused to throw in the towel though and made it interesting at 3-5, before Barty broke immediately back to win 6-3. Again Barty started strongly in the second set, winning three of the first four games before the Belarusian bounced back to take the lead herself 4-3. Three consecutive games of pure tennis resulted in the Australian claiming the match in just over two hours and handing her nation the crucial buffer.

The experience of Victoria Azarenka showed out in the second match when she took on Ajla Tomljanovic. The pair are both ranked in the 50s and were evenly matched, but it was Azarenka who was able to close out each set. She trailed 2-3 at one stage in the first set, but won four of the last five games to snatch the lead at 6-4. She then held serve strongly to start the second set, but was broken in the sixth game, only to break immediately back – twice – as well as hold her serve to go 5-3 up and serve for the match. Tomljanovic had another burst of energy in the ninth game of the set, breaking Azarenka and serving it out to level the set at 5-5, only for the Belarusian to hold comfortably and then win the match off back-to-back forehand winners, 6-4 7-5.

Now the tie was level, Barty and Sam Stosur would face off against Sabalenka and Azarenka hoping that Stosur’s freshness and Barty’s form would be an advantage. They trailed early in the first set, after being broken in the sixth game to be 2-3 down. Finding something special, the Australian duo won four consecutive games – breaking twice including Sabalenka in the 10th game to take the first set 6-4. Frustrated at the missed opportunity, the Belarusians stepped it up a notch in the second set, as each pairing held serve until the seventh game. Belarus broke Stosur’s serve to lead 4-3, only for them to break Azarenka straight back and then move to 5-4 by holding serve. Neither side broke again as the match was forced into a second set tiebreaker, which went all the way to 14-12 before Barty timed a perfect lob and Stosur hit the easy volley into the open court off the Sabalenka return. Australia was through to the final four with an impressive, yet tight overall victory.

Ash Barty (AUS) defeated Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-3 6-4
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-4 7-5
A. Barty / S. Stosur (AUS) defeated A. Sabalenka / V. Azarenka (BLR) 6-4 7-6