Tennis: USA and Australia tied 1-1 after first day of Fed Cup clash

USA and Australia are tied at 1-1 after the first day of their Fed Cup World Group clash in Asheville, North Carolina. Ashleigh Barty gave Australia a good start in their bid to end a 35-year losing drought to USA, as she cruised through the first set 6-1 against Sofia Kenin and then survived a second set tie-break to earn a 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) victory. USA then drew level as Madison Keys overwhelmed Kimberley Birrell, a player ranked 140 places below her, 6-2, 6-2. Playing her first tie in three years, Keys took just one hour to beat her Australian opponent, faltering just once when broken to love when serving for the match at 5-1. But Keys redeemed herself in the next game and wrapped up the victory with a powerful backhand winner.