U.S. Fed Cup team falls in dramatic fashion to Australia

The United States hosted a strong Australian Fed Cup in North Carolina this weekend, and despite vocal home support, fell in a dramatic tie, 3-2.

Action in Asheville began on Saturday with singles. Australia's No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, coming in from a quarterfinal run in Melbourne, eased past 20-year-old Sofia Kenin, 6-1, 7-6 (2).

Kenin was showing her trademark fighting spirit, but it wasn't enough to upset the world No. 13.

Madison Keys then stepped up to the plate for the United States, delivering a dismissive 6-2, 6-2 win over Kimberly Birrell.

In the clash between No. 1's on Sunday, Barty edged Keys, 6-4, 6-1 before Danielle Collins came to the rescue.

Collins, a recent Australian Open semifinalist, needed to win to keep the U.S. in the tie. She battled to beat Daria Gavrilova in three sets, surviving a never-ending game at 2-2 in the third set to cruise to victory, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

The 25-year-old also came to the rescue for a shy Fed Cup mascot.

Gavrilova may not have contributed a point on the court, but she gave all kinds of support from the sidelines.

As the deciding doubles match began, tension was at an all-time high in the US Cellular Arena, but the away team would not be denied. Barty teamed up with Priscilla Hon to seal the semifinal spot for Australia, 6-4, 7-5 over Collins and Nicole Melichar.

It was an exciting and dramatic weekend for both teams, and even with the United States falling, they tested Australia to the limit.

ATP Rotterdam (Mon - Sun 2/11 - 2/17)

•    See Marin Cilic, Kei Nishikori, Karen Khachanov and Stefanos Tsitsipas live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday 2/11 at 6:30 am ET.

ATP New York (Mon - Sun 2/11 - 2/17)

•    Watch Frances Tiafoe, John Isner and Alex de Minaur live from New York starting Monday 2/11 at 11:00 am ET

WTA Doha (Mon - Sat 2/11 - 2/16)

•    Starting Monday 2/11 at 7:30 am ET, catch live coverage of the Qatar Total Open featuring Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova and Angelique Kerber.

ATP Buenos Aires (Mon - Sun 2/11 - 2/17)

•    Catch the action from the Argentina Open including Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini and Diego Schwartzman. Live coverage begins on Tennis Channel Plus on Monday 2/11 at 12:30 pm ET

USTA College Match Day 3 Lake Nona - (Sat - 2/16)

•    Tennis Channel Plus features live coverage of USTA College Matches in Lake Nona on Saturday 2/16 4:00 pm ET