It was a much shorter rubber compared to the one between Sam Stosur and Aryna Sabalenka, taking just one hour and 23 minutes.

The win for Australia sees Barty take her 12th straight win in the Fed Cup.

"Unbelievable, this is really special playing at home, I think for all of us we noticed a massive difference in the atmosphere when we came out here today and this is what Fed Cup is all about," Barty said of the crowd after the match.

"It was just unreal, this is amazing."

It was an important win for the Australian team heading into the reverse singles and double rubber tomorrow (Sunday, April 21). 

PLUS...

Belarus puts pressure back on Australia

It was a mammoth rubber to open the Fed Cup World Group semi-final tie with Belarus taking the win 5-7 7-5 6-3 over Australia.

For Azarenka, she came into the tie having not lost a Fed Cup rubber since 2010, a 13 match winning streak, but she was coming up against her doubles partner Barty. 

The world no.9 was broken two different times in the opening set by Azarenka, who is a two-time Australian Open Champion, but each time Barty was able to break back.

Unable to be separated in 12 games, it was off to a tiebreak with the Belarusian taking a 2-0 lead. However, those were the last points Azarenka would see in the tiebreak as Barty dominated across the court to win seven straight points and the first set.

The Queenslander was able to swing more freely in the next set which saw her work Azarenka across the court. 

Settling into the set more, she was able to break and maintain it throughout the rest of the set but it wasn't without pressure. 

Azarenka pulled out all the experience she had to try to stay within reach of the match and she pulled off some stunning returns. 

However, there was no denying Barty and that slice backhand of hers the victory.