Vandeweghe leads US to 18th FedCup title

The US have won their first Fed Cup in 17 years after the Pat Cash-coached Coco Vandeweghe and Shelby Rogers won the decisive doubles rubber.

United States' team celebrates

Coco Vandeweghe's perfect Fed Cup record in 2017 was instrumental in the US claiming the title. (AAP)

A 17-year championship drought has come to an end for the United States when they overcame hosts Belarus 3-2 to win a record-extending 18th Fed Cup title.

CoCo Vandeweghe and Shelby Rogers defeated Aryna Sabalenka and Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in the deciding doubles of the final.

"It feels perfectly believable and unbelievable," Vandeweghe said.

"I'm ready for a vacation."

It's been quite a year for the 25-year-old American, who made it through to the US Open semi-finals and is at a career-high No.10 in the world rankings since linking up with Australian Pat Cash in June.

After being dumped by her coach after the French Open, Vandeweghe appointed 1987 Wimbledon champion Cash and "the rest is what it is", she told the AFP in September.

Vandeweghe proved the difference between the two teams. She has won all eight Fed Cup matches she's played this season - six singles and two doubles.

Vandeweghe is the first player to win eight matches since the current eight-team World Group format was introduced in 2005.

"I had a great time out there," Vandeweghe said.

"I really relished in that moment of having the crowd against me and firing myself up and believing in myself."

Vandeweghe and Rogers trailed 5-2 in the second set with their Belarus opponents serving to level the match at one-set apiece in the eighth, 10th and 12th games.

The Americans dominated the tiebreaker, winning five of the last six points.

Sasnovich had kept Belarus alive after beating US Open champion Sloane Stephens 4-6 6-1 8-6 to leave the final level at 2-2 on the indoor hard-court Chizhovka Arena.

Earlier, Vandeweghe beat Sabalenka 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 to give the US a 2-1 lead.

Kathy Rinaldi, in her inaugural season in charge of the Americans, became the first female captain in the tournament to lead a Fed Cup team to victory since Billie Jean King for the US in 2000.

"It's been an incredible ride thanks to these ladies," Rinaldi said.

"We're family and we've had each other's backs. This was a very tough match."

Belarus were making their first appearance in a Fed Cup final.

"We are really satisfied we gained this result," Belarus captain Eduard Dubrou said.


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Source: AAP



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