Queenslander Ash Barty will lead Australia’s World Group charge at the Fed Cup when they face 2018 finalist USA.
Off the back of an impressive summer where she became the first Australian female quarterfinalist at Aus Open in 10 years, Barty will lead Daria Gavrilova, Priscilla Hon, Kimberly Birrell and Astra Sharma in the five-strong team.
It is the first time Sharma has been named in the Fed Cup side, which comes after a breakout summer where she earned her first ever main draw Grand Slam win and reached the mixed doubles final.
“This is a quality team and I’m very happy with our selection,” Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik said.
“We are really thrilled to be back in the World Group for the first time since 2015, this tie is a great opportunity for the girls’ to prove the strength of women’s tennis in Australia right now and I think it’s going to be a great battle."
Gavrilova will aim to build her Fed Cup form after sealing victory over the Netherlands last Apri while Hon, Sharma and Birrell will push for selection in the final four in the lead up to the tie.
The US leads the head-to-head 9-5, and the last time the two teams met in 2016, USA defeated Australia 4-0.
The tie will be broadcast on 9Gem, with the time difference meaning the matches will commence on Sunday 10 February and finish on Monday 11 February.
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