Fed Cup Updates

World Group I:

Russia are firmly in command of their tie against China. Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Zi Yan 6-2, 6-4 and Elena Dementieva cruised past Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-0 to record a 2-0 lead going into tomorrow.

Last year's finalists Spain are in danger of going out after their best player here, Carla Suarez Navarro, was surprisingly beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. Nuria Llagostera Vives lost the first set 6-1 to Iveta Benesova, but won the second set by the same score.

Amelie Mauresmo won the first set 6-2 for France against Flavia Pennetta of Italy, yet Pennetta retaliated and has just taken the second on a tie-break. Alize Cornet plays Francesca Schiavone later on today.

The USA will have to rely on a mix of experience and youth, as Mary Joe Fernandez's team takes on Argentina in Arizona later today. Jill Craybas, now 35, is scheduled to play Betina Jozami, whereas Melanie Oudin, who is 17 (we think), plays the highest ranked player here, Gisela Dulko.

World Group II:

Patty Schnyder has given Switzerland a 1-0 lead against Germany in Zurich by beating Anna Lena Groenefeld 7-6, 6-3. Timea Bacsinszky will play the higher ranked Sabine Lisicki in the hope of increasing that lead.

Dominika Cibulkova, the new Slovak number one (Hantuchova's had that for an age), defied a strong challenge in the first set from Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, but eased through the second to win 7-6, 6-1. Daniela Hantuchova will play teenager Yanina Wickmayer in the second tie.

Serbia can expect a massive turnout for their match in Belgrade (their first home tie ever) against Japan. Ana Ivanovic has just beaten Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4. Ayumi Morita plays Jelena Jankovic later.

Ukraine are currently 1-0 up against Israel after Alona Bondarenko defeated Tzipora Obziler 6-4, 6-4. Sister Kateryna Bondarenko plays Shahar Peer later today.

Other:

In the competiton for the World Group play-offs, the ties are as follows:

Euro-Africa zone: Belarus v Estonia, Britain v Poland
Asia-Oceania zone: Australia bt New Zealand 3-0
Americas zone: Canada v Paraguay

Relegation - Euro-Africa: Luxembourg v Austria, Bulgaria v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Relegation - Americas: Puerto Rico v Brazil, Bahamas v Colombia
Relegation - Asia-Oceania: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-0 (Kazakhstan are to be promoted to the Asia-Oceania Group I next year)