This weekend's Fed Cup play down under concluded after the United States stole the show in their away tie. Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands suited up for the red, white, and blue on Sunday as they dictated play over the green and gold of Australia.
Vandeweghe Victorious Over Stosur
Coco Vandeweghe was called upon by her nation's Fed Cup captain, Mary Jo Fernadez, to take the place of Madison Keys in the third rubber. The reverse singles commenced and the Americans were just a win away from draw promotion. Early proceedings went in the way of Samantha Stosur as the Aussie took the opening set six games to two. But the American denied the thought of losing to the Australian for the second time. Vandeweghe pushed the Australian number one to a deciding third set after the world number 36 sealed a 7-5 second set win in 56 minutes.
The third set saw both players serve and return exceptionally well, but ultimately Vandeweghe executed better in the end. The United States took the three rubbers to none lead leaving the Australians no possible chance at the World Group in 2017. The 24-year-old picked up her first career Fed Cup singles win, as well as her fourth career victory over Samantha Stosur. The American was not done with her tennis on Sunday as she was to play in the dead doubles rubber alongside Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
American Duo Clinch Sweep
Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands last took the court together when they lifted the trophy in Indian Wells. The in-form pair raced to an opening set win while denying Daria Gavrilova and Arina Rodionova of winning more than one game. The tie was clinched for the United States but they did not stop there. A 6-1, 6-4 win for Vandeweghe and Mattek-Sands marked the eighth straight win for the American Fed Cup team.
Next stop for the United States
The United States will be the only non-European team in Fed Cup’s elite draw next year, the World Group. The Americans sealed their promotion into the World Group for the first time in three years. Another deficit was broken as the in-form squad won their first back-to-back ties in four years. Mary Jo Fernandez will lead the red, white, and blue into the nation’s 51st World Group appearance as they look to win the prestige trophy for the first time since 2000.
Australia falls down the ladder
The Australian team led by Alicia Molik will be relegated back to the World Group II draw as they will join Italy, Romania, Russia, and five other top tennis nations to battle for promotion. The Aussie's number one player, Samantha Stosur, continues to stumble under home-crowd pressure, but the utter talent from the team as a whole will over-shadow the struggles,