体坛英语新闻：Sabalenka gives Belarus early lead with Fed Cup semifinal opener win

SYDNEY, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka beat home favorite Samantha Stosur to take an early lead in the Fed Cup international women's tennis team competition semifinal opener in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Belarusian No. 1 needed two hours and 47 minutes to triumph over the Australian No. 2 in a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 match before a vocal crowd at the Pat Rafter Arena in the Queensland state capital, according to a statement from organizers.

"It was an unbelievable match," Sabalenka, who is ranked in 67th place above her opponent at No. 10 in the world rankings, was quoted as saying. "She played unbelievable level. I'm so happy that we showed this kind of level."

Sabalenka, 20, extended her Fed Cup singles record to 9-4, while the 35-year-old veteran who has clinched a record 29 Fed Cup singles points for Australia remains empty-handed on her home court and the host country needs three wins from the four remaining matches to reach its first final since 1993, organizers said.