Aryna Sabalenka secured the second rubber for Belarus after beating Sloane Stephens 6-3 3-6 6-4 as the Fed Cup Final between Belarus and USA is tied at 1-1 and hangs in the balance.
Sabalenka played fearlessly as she broke early in the first set for a 2-0 lead as she looked to level the tie for Belarus in Minsk.
However the US Open champion found an opening in the seventh game and on her first break point broke back for 3-4. Although the American’s momentum was cut short as she was broken back in the next game by the talented Belarusian.
The world number 78 grabbed the first set 6-3 after denying Stephens another chance to break. The local crowd went crazy as Belarus look to create an amazing sporting moment this weekend.
The World number 13 fought back in the second set as she broke in the sixth game as she stormed into a 4-2 lead. Stephens continued to battle as she sealed the second set 6-3 to force a deciding set.
In the final set there were six breaks of serve as both players were anxious and nervous on serve as there was a lot at stake in the match.
However in the tenth game Sabalenka broke Stephens to take the match and level the tie to give Belarus hope heading into the final day. Here is how the 19 year old sealed the match:
It's 1-1 in the #FedCupFinal after @SabalenkaA defeats Sloane Stephens 63 36 64 much to the delight of the home crowd in Minsk 🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/yCkIXPXK7J
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) November 11, 2017
Sabalenka described her emotions after the match, “When you play at home and are 1-0 down and you have to win…I was fighting with myself and I finally did it. I just started crying.”
Earlier in the day Coco Vandeweghe put the USA 1-0 up after she beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4 6-4 in a match that lasted just over the 90 minute mark.
The American use her accurate serve as she gave the Americans the early advantage in Minsk. “I take the energy that’s around me and I really use it to my advantage. I’ve played a few away ties, but this one is extra special,” said Vandeweghe, who is USA’s number one player this week.
Coco Vandeweghe will start proceedings tomorrow against Aryna Sabalenka at 11:00 GMT time as we will know the 2017 Fed Cup champions tomorrow.
