Australia’s 45-year Fed Cup drought will continue for another year after France bettered their 2016 runners-up finish to seal an epic 3-2 triumph in Perth on Sunday.

After Croatian-born Australian Ajla Tomljanovic sent the tie into a fifth-rubber decider, French duo Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia were too good for Ash Barty and Samantha Stosur, winning 6-4 6-3.

The victory was France’s third Fed Cup title and first since 2003.

World No.40 Kristina Mladenovic was the hero for France, winning both her singles matches, including her gripping 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1) third-rubber against World No.1 Barty.

Together with Garcia, who was dropped for the return singles match against Tomljanovic, the duo had too much class and composure for the experienced Australian pair.

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A distraught Barty wept at the trophy presentation.

“I think you can see how much it means to all of us,” Barty said.

“Obviously it’s bitterly disappointing to be sitting here not with the result that we were after.

“But all in all, it’s about taking a little bit of perspective and this team — this group of girls — personally, I wouldn’t want to be sitting here with anyone else.

“It’s been an amazing journey.”

Australia captain Alicia Molik paid tribute to Mladenovic’s inspirational and decisive performance.

“I think she carried all of the French team on her shoulders,” Molik said.

“It was an unbelievable display.”

France celebrates winning the Fed Cup at RAC Arena in Perth. Source: AAP

Meanwhile, the French triumph more than made up for their doubles loss three years ago to the Czech Republic, which saw them finish second.

“Yeah definitely. It’s lots of emotions with Caro after, like you said, we failed on the last step of the tie and today we just wanted to take this little revenge for ourselves and it’s not describable how we feel right now,” Mladenovic said.

Added Garcia: “I’m not sure I have completely realised because it’s been a crazy weekend for everyone. This doubles win was very fast, but we played every point very focused. We played a great match and it was very tense.”

Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic of France celebrate with their team and captain Julien Benneteau following their Fed Cup triumph. Source: Getty Images

Captain Julien Benneteau, who took charge of France this year for the first time, said it was a dream come true.

“I’m the proudest man on the planet right now. I’m so proud of my girls and my team – they deserve it because they fought for a long time for this title.

“We have an unbeliebale staff and supporters.

“It’s a dream for me. I tried to imagine that at the beginning of the year when I knew that I could have the best team with me on the court. Now, eight months later here we are.”

Stosur, in particular, struggled in her first match of the weekend, regularly finding the net.

Australia had been bidding for the first title since 1974, when Evonne Goolagong, Dianne Fromholtz and Janet Young defeated the United States 2-1 in Italy to win the Federation Cup.

Ash Barty and Sam Stosur were beaten in the fifth rubber decider in the Fed Cup Final by France. Source: AAP

DAY TWO ACTION

After Tomljanovic’s struggles on Saturday, where she was smashed 6-1 6-1 by Mladenovic on debut, captain Alicia Molik had the opportunity to promote Stosur for the reverse singles match.

But Molik backed Tomljanovic and the decision proved to be a masterstroke.

Gone were the nerves of a day earlier as Tomljanovic came out firing and kept up the high quality of play against her 33-year-old veteran opponent, who herself had been promoted ahead of Garcia after she failed to win a game against Barty.

“Yeah, I’m really glad I got a second chance today and got the win and kept us in,” Tomljanovic said in her post-match interview.

“This team has been unbelievable all week and it’s such a privilege to play for you guys.”

Tomljanovic, who was told on Saturday night that she would have the chance to rectify her poor first hit out, added that she felt more relaxed heading into the must-win fourth rubber.

“Yeah, I did. And I got a better night’s sleep. I got the first day out of the way and I thought it can’t be worse than that.”

While Tomljanovic appeared nervous on Saturday, Molik said that she was confident that the World No.51 would turn it around.

“I thought Ajla did a great job yesterday because on debut, playing in her first Fed Cup, a final on top of that, I thought she gave as much as she could yesterday,” Molik said.

“We all knew Ajla would be so much better today and what a test of character. It was unbelievable sitting on the side. She took this match from her opponent today.”

Kristina Mladenovic of France reacts after winning the second set during her epic three-set win over Ash Barty. Source: AAP

France had taken a 2-1 lead after a composed Mladenovic produced the performance of her life over more than two-and-a-half hours to beat Barty.

“It’s tough to speak,” she said on court following her emotional victory.

“These kind of stages to play – Ashleigh, she’s World No.1 – and such a thriller, 7-6 in the third after such a long battle and a fight and in front of all of you.”

Barty won the first set 6-2 after breaking the World No.40 twice, including in the set-winning game.

But Mladenovic quickly asserted her authority in the second set.

Barty was forced to save five break points in the first game of the second set, after coming from 0-40 down to hold serve.

Locked at 3-3, Barty won four straight points after trailing 0-30 to move to a crucial 4-3 lead in the second set.

But having failed to take a break point, Mladenovic levelled the score at 4-4 and then broke back to take a 5-4 before holding serve to claim the second set in 53 minutes.

Mladenovic broke Barty in the third game to move to a 2-1 lead and at 3-2 down the Australian was forced to save another break point.

Having held on, Barty then broke back to level the third set at 3-3 before she consolidated by winning her own serve to move to a 4-3 lead.

The third set took another twist when Mladenovic broke again to move to a 5-4 lead and give herself the chance to serve for the match.

But Barty — ever the fighter — returned fire with fire to break back to level it at 5-5.

Broken again, Mladenovic failed to serve the match out as Barty took the match to a tie-break.

She had no problems from that point though, reeling off six straight points to claim the tie-break 7-1.

“We kept on fighting every single point,” Mladenovic said following her triumph.

“That’s the way I love to play my tennis.

“Ashleigh’s World No.1 and she’s just a huge champion.

“I lost the first set but then I knew it was about details and at this level when you play the World No.1 you can’t fail and give away opportunities.

“I just kept believing and I’m just so proud how I kept pushing and obviously won at the end.”

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

RUBBER 3: Ash Barty def by Kristina Mladenovic 6-2 4-6 6-7 (7-1)

RUBBER 4: Ajla Tomljanovic def Pauline Parmentier 6-4 7-5

RUBBER 5: Ash Barty and Samantha Stosur def Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia 6-4 6-3

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

- Ajla Tomljanovic def by Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 6-1

- Ash Barty def Caroline Garcia 6-0 6-0