Barty, Stosur spearhead Australia in Fed Cup final

The Western Australia capital Perth hosts the final on hardcourts on November 9-10. Along with Barty and Stosur, Australian captain Alicia Molik handed a debut to Ajla Tomljanovic, who has spent most of 2019 inside the top 50, hitting a career-high of 39. She effectively replaces the injured Daria Gavrilova. Young guns Astra Sharma and Priscilla Hon round out the team. France are yet to name their lineup.

"We have a lot of experience, and we'll go about our business the same way, not feeling like we need to change anything because it will be the spectacle of a final," said Molik. "Hosting a Fed Cup final in your home country is a rare and precious opportunity," she added. "I know our team will not only embrace the challenge, but feed off the support of the fans." Australia holds a 5-1 record over two-time Fed Cup champions France, although the French won the most recent tie between the two nations in 2000, when Molik was on the team.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019

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