(AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

PERTH, Australia (AP) Kristina Mladenovic inspired France to a drought-breaking Fed Cup triumph after a nail-biting 3-2 win in the final against Australia on Sunday.

Mladenovic combined with Caroline Garcia to beat Ashleigh Barty and Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-3 in the decisive doubles match at Perth Arena. She produced a herculean effort on the outdoor hard court after earlier Sunday upsetting the top-ranked Barty in a three-set thriller to move France into a 2-1 lead.

French Open winner Barty's remarkable season ended in heartbreak just one week after her historic US $4.42 million triumph at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen.

Read More...