Czech holders, Russia in control at Fed Cup

Titleholders Czech Republic and last year's runners-up Russia both grabbed commanding 2-0 leads to put themselves a point away from victory in their Fed Cup World Group first round ties on Saturday. In Moscow, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova chalked up straight sets wins against their Spanish rivals, while in Stuttgart world number two Petra Kvitova ensured hosts Germany lost both their opening singles rubbers against the Czechs. Two-time Grand Slam winner Kuznetsova beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-1 to take full points for the hosts after Australian Open finalist Sharapova had trounced Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 6-1. "It was much tougher to win than it may have appeared looking at the scoreline," Kuznetsova said. "I struggled to acclimatize after coming to snow-covered Moscow from Australia." "But anyway I managed to play well enough today and I'm pleased both with my performance and with winning an important point for our team." Meanwhile, the Czechs went 1-0 up after Iveta Benesova stunned Sabine Lisicki by coming back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 before Kvitova went the distance with Germany's Julia Goerges for a 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 win. Wimbledon semi-finalist Lisicki, ranked 14th in the world, failed to cope with Benesova, ranked 49th, who rallied from at 4-4 in the second set to win the match. Against Goerges, Kvitova improved her unbeaten streak on indoor courts to 26 games as she held her nerve in a close match, meaning the Germans have it all to do in Sunday's two remaining singles matches. In Charleroi, Yanina Wickmayer drew hosts Belgium level 1-1 in their tie at home against Serbia, as Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko stunned Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-2 to level 1-1 after the first day's play in Biella, Italy. Italy's Australian Open quarter-finalist Sara Errani earlier broke Kateryna Bondarenko's serve four times to win through 6-2, 6-3. Belgian number one Wickmayer won through 6-4, 6-4 in just under two hours after world number 13 Jelena Jankovic defeated 178th-ranked Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 7-5. Wickmayer, ranked 29, ensured that all was still to play for Sunday when she ousted 105th-ranked Jovanovski, as players complained about the freezing conditions in the Spiroudrome.