Christina McHale had the opportunity to seize control of the Fed Cup tie against Australia on Saturday when she took on Sam Stosur. An earlier fairly straightforward 6-4, 6-2 win by Madison Keys over Daria Gavrilova put the US in front. McHale was shaky from the start getting broken in her first two service games and trailing 4-1. She lost the first set 6-3 but rebounded quickly in set two taking the first five games and eventually the set 6-1. Holding serve was the story in the third and decisive set as the two traded serve until at a 3-3 tie McHale had numerous opportunities to break. Six break points can and went and eventually Stosur pulled out the game. The two continued to trade games all the way to 5-5 before McHale finally got another chance to break Stosur and took advantage. McHale lost two of the first three points in the final game but won the next three to close out the set and give the US a huge 2-0 lead.
Now on Sunday Keys has the opportunity to lock things up for the US against Stosur and even if she falters the US will have two other opportunities to close out the tie when McHale takes on Gavrilova and when Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands take on the Australian doubles team of Casey Dellacqua and Arina Rodionova. As always with these Fed Cup matchups they are subject to change at coach Mary Jo Hernandez discretion.
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