Former world No. 1s Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep won their opening matches as the Fed Cup clash between defending champions the Czech Republic and Romania ended 1-1 on Saturday’s opening day.
Pliskova, her country’s top player in the absence of world No. 2 Petra Kvitova, swept past Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1, 6-4, before Halep disposed of Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-0 to bring Romania level.
“I’m excited, but I can’t afford to get overexcited,” said Australian Open semi-finalist Pliskova, who is hoping to inspire the Czech Republic to an 11th successive appearance in the past four of the Fed Cup.
Photo: Reuters
Her caution is understandable as she trails Halep 6-2 in career meetings.
However, Pliskova won their last clash on clay in Madrid last year, as well as coming out on top in a 2016 Fed Cup World Group clash over three sets.
French Open champion Halep has already vowed to win a first Fed Cup for Romania before she retires, describing it as “the first thing on her bucket list now,” having ticked off a maiden Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros last year.
In Liege, two-time champions France dominated Belgium for a 2-0 lead.
Top 20 player Caroline Garcia, returning to the French squad for the first time in two years, after a bitter fall-out with teammates following the 2016 final, earned the opening point with a 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-2 win over Alison Van Uytvanck.
“There was a little stress, a little tension,” French No. 1 Garcia said. “But it was the same thing the last time I came back to the team — nothing different, nothing more.”
On the back of an 86-minute first set, Alize Cornet then made it 2-0 by seeing off Belgian No. 1 Elise Mertens 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. It was Cornet’s first win in the competition in five years, as she made a mockery of the 30 places separating her from Mertens in the world rankings.
Belarus, the 2017 runners-up, comfortably moved 2-0 ahead of Germany in Braunschweig, with straight set wins for Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Aryna Sabalenka.
Sasnovich defeated Tatjana Maria 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 before world No. 9 Sabalenka needed just over an hour to defeat Andrea Petkovic.
The winners of that tie are to face either 18-time champions the United States, who were runners-up to the Czech Republic last year, or Australia, the Fed Cup victors on seven occasions.
The competition’s two most successful nations were locked at 1-1 in Asheville, North Carolina, after Saturday’s opening singles.
Ashleigh Barty extended her Fed Cup winning streak to nine by seeing off Sofia Kenin 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) before world No. 17 Madison Keys easily defeated Kimberly Birrell, ranked 157, in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to pull the United States level.
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