- Fed Cup
Russia put one foot in the final
Russia are on the verge of reaching the Fed Cup final for the first time in three years after taking a 2-0 lead against defending champions Italy in Moscow.
The Russians won four titles between 2004 and 2008 but failed to reach the final in the last two years, during which Italy dominated the competition.
The Italians are without world No. 4 Francesca Schiavone and the injured Flavia Pennetta, and Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci struggled to step into their shoes.
World No. 3 Vera Zvonareva needed less than an hour to wrap up the opening rubber against Errani, hitting 34 winners to her opponent's nine to seal an emphatic 6-0 6-2 victory.
Two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova doubled the hosts' advantage. The former world No. 3 didn't drop her serve but needed all three sets to secure a 6-2 6-7(4) 6-1 victory over Vinci.
In the other semi-final, Yanina Wickmayer won her rubber to keep Belgium's hopes of a first title since 2001 alive. With her side trailing to Czech Republic after Petra Kvitova's 6-2 7-6(4) win over Kirsten Flipkens, Wickmayer fired five aces and hit 31 winners to overpower Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-4 6-4.
Meanwhile in the World Group play-offs, USA are in danger of dropping out of the World Group after Germany took a 2-0 lead in Stuttgart. The 17-time champions and last year's runners-up, who are without the injured Williams sisters, will have to win all three rubbers on Sunday to guarantee their place in the elite group next season.
Andrea Petkovic gave the hosts the lead after a routine 6-3 6-4 victory over American teenager Christina McHale before Julia Goerges doubled their advantage, beating Melanie Oudine 6-2 7-6(5).
Aravane Rezai held her nerve to ensure France go into the second day on level terms with Spain in Lleida. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez notched a 6-2 6-4 win over Virginie Razzano before Rezai levelled, battling to a 7-5 6-7(4) 6-2 victory over Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Australia's hopes of remaining in the top tier hit a stumbling block after they were pegged back by Ukraine in Melbourne. Jarmila Groth got the home side off to a flying start with an emphatic 6-1 6-1 victory over Olga Savchuk in just 48 minutes, but Anastasia Rodionova suffered a shock defeat at the hands of world No. 131 Lesia Tsurenko 6-1 6-4.
In the final play-off, former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic beat Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets to level the scores for Serbia against Slovakia. In the day's opening rubber Dominika Cibulkova battled back from a set and a break down to beat Bojana Jovanovski 4-6 6-3 6-1 before Ivanovic triumphed 6-2 6-4.