Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Melanie Oudin gave the US a dream start to their Fed Cup World Group first-round match against France on Saturday — but holders Italy were finding Ukraine a tough nut to crack.
Mattek-Sands and Oudin both won their singles rubbers to put Mary-Joe Fernandez’s 17-time champions firmly in the driving seat in the northern French town of Lievin despite the absence of both Williams sisters.
Mattek-Sands, from Rochester, Minnesota, and ranked 140th in the world, saw off 65th-ranked opponent Alice Cornet 7-6 (9/7), 7-5, to achieve her first Fed Cup win before 53rd-ranked Oudin beat tournament debutant Pauline Parmentier, ranked 104, 6-4, 6-4.
PHOTO: REUTERS
As the Americans showed the depth of their squad, Italy have it all to do after splitting their opening two matches with Ukraine in Kharkiv.
The hosts got off to a flier thanks to Alona Bondarenko thrashing Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-4, but the Italians rallied as the experienced Flavia Pennetta edged out Alona’s younger sister, Kateryna, 7-5, 6-3.
In Belgrade, Russia were locked at 1-1 with hosts Serbia after Svetlana Kuznetsova hammered home favorite Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-4, before Jelena Jankovic overcame a slow start to bring the Serbs level in seeing off Alisa Kleybanova 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
In the other World Group last eight encounter, the Czech Republic were 1-1 with Germany in Brno after Anna-Lena Groenefeld scored a debut 6-2, 6-2 success over Lucie Safarova, only for Petra Kvitova to see off Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-4 and bring the Czechs level before their home fans.
In World Group II yesterday, Samantha Stosur inspired Australia to a 3-2 win over Spain in their first-round tie at Memorial Drive.
World No. 11 Stosur featured in all three of Australia’s victories and joined with 38-year-old veteran Rennae Stubbs to gain the winning doubles rubber in the final match.
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