MINSK, 12 November (BelTA) - The United States won the Fed Cup for the first time in 17 years with a dramatic victory over Belarus in Minsk, BelTA informs.
Coco Vandeweghe and Shelby Rogers beat Arina Sobolenko and Aleksandra Sasnovich 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in the deciding doubles rubber to give the visitors a 3-2 win.
On the first day of the Fed Cup final, 11 November, world number ten Coco Vandeweghe defeated Aleksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-4, before Belarus’ Arina Sobolenko proved too strong for Sloane Stephens, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
On 12 November Coco Vandeweghe beat Arina Sobolenko 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 while Aleksandra Sasnovich defeated Sloane Stephens 4-6 6-1 8-6 in a thrilling match to force a decider.
Belarus played their maiden Fed Cup final, after beating the Netherlands (4-1) and Switzerland (3-2) this season. Despite the defeat to the United States, the Belarusian players showed their fighting spirit and a good game.