Sharapova lifts Russia to 2-0 lead

KOBE, Japan (AP)

Russia 2, Spain 0

Maria Sharapova routed Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 6-1 in the opening singles to give Russia a 1-0 lead over Spain in their Fed Cup first-round series.

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Two-time major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova was scheduled to play against Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in the second singles match on Saturday.

After an early exchange of breaks, Sharapova won four consecutive games in the first set and four more in the second. She closed the match on her first match point with a forehand that Soler-Espinosa failed to return.

The winner of the series will play Belgium or Serbia in the semifinals April 21-22.

Czech Republic 2, Germany 0

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova rallied to outlast Julia Goerges 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 Saturday, giving defending champ Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Germany in the first round of the Fed Cup.

In the first match of the best-of-five series, Iveta Benesova also had to come from behind to beat Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Goerges was two points from winning, leading 5-4 and 30-0 before falling to the second-ranked Kvitova in 2 hours, 21 minutes. Kvitova is on a 26-0 run indoors.

Benesova served two aces to save two break points while trailing 3-2 in the second set and held serve.

''That was very important,'' Benesova said. ''It gave me a push and I stayed in the match.''

The series will be decided Sunday with two reverse singles and a doubles match at Porsche Arena. Germany's 10th-ranked Andrea Petkovic was ruled out with a lower back injury.

This is the seventh meeting between the countries, with the Czechs leading 5-1. The series winner will play Ukraine or Italy in the semifinals April 21-22.

Italy 1, Ukraine 1

Unheralded Lesia Tsurenko routed 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-2 Saturday to draw Ukraine level 1-1 with Italy after the opening day of a first-round Fed Cup tie.

The 121st-ranked Tsurenko dominated with a big serve and accurate volleys, while Schiavone lacked her usual aggressiveness and fleet footwork.

Earlier on the indoor red-clay court at the Lauretana Forum, Sara Errani followed up her quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open by comfortably beating Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 6-3.

Reverse singles and doubles in the best-of-five series are scheduled for Sunday.

Errani broke early in each set and was never really challenged by the 89th-ranked Bondarenko.

The 34th-ranked Errani usually plays only doubles for Italy, but captain Corrado Barazzutti decided to use her in singles after her results in Australia and with Flavia Pennetta struggling with a back injury.

''It's never easy to open in Fed Cup but it was a good match, very quick. She was hitting really hard,'' said Errani. ''For me, Fed Cup is the best thing all year.''

Errani was beaten by Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the Australian Open quarterfinals. She also reached the doubles final in Melbourne, pairing with Vinci in a loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva of Russia.

Italy won the Fed Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

However, in its last outing, an under-strength Italy - without Schiavone and Pennetta - had its eight-tie winning streak broken in a 5-0 loss to Russia in last year's semifinals.

Italy has won all three of its ties with Ukraine.

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Serbia 1, Belgium 1

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium won in straight sets Saturday, leaving this opening-round Fed Cup series tied after the first day.

Jankovic, once ranked No. 1, beat Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 7-5. Wickmayer then downed Bojana Jovanovski 6-4, 6-4.

Kim Clijsters decided to sit out the opening round for Belgium in her farewell season. Serbia is without former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic.

Jankovic showed her experience late in the opening set, forcing a first break of serve against the 176th-ranked Flipkens. She went up 4-2 in the second but let Flipkens back in the match. Jankovic saved two set points before winning.

That put the pressure on Wickmayer in the best-of-five series. Wickmayer became Belgium's highest-ranked player after Clijsters lost in the semifinals at the Australian Open title last week. Wickmayer is ranked No. 29 and had enough experience to edge Jovanovski, 76 places below her.

Wickmayer rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the second set but won the final four games.

Japan 2, Slovenia 0

Kimiko Date-Krumm and Ayumi Morita both won on Saturday to give Japan a 2-0 lead over Slovenia in a Fed Cup World Group II tie.

Date-Krumm beat Polona Hercog 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the first match and Morita gave Japan a 2-0 lead with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Nastja Kolar.

Morita will face Hercog and Date-Krumm will take on Kolar on Sunday in reverse singles.