Russia takes 2-0 Fed Cup Final lead

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MADRID, Spain -- Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova gave defending champion Russia a 2-0 lead in the Fed Cup Final Saturday by winning the opening singles matches against Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. Zvonareva defeated Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-4 and Kuznetsova bested Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-1. "I haven't played in a Fed Cup final in four years and it was very tough for both of us to start the first match," Zvonareva said. "Anabel is a great player so I'm glad to get through this one." The 24-year-old Zvonareva adapted well to sunny conditions at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid's clay court, the Spanish players' favourite surface. Zvonareva broke Medina Garrigues in the second game to go 2-0 up, before the Spaniard broke back in the fifth game. But Zvonareva responded with another break to go up 4-2 and clinched the first set when Medina Garrigues' forehand went long. The second set saw five breaks of serve before Zvonareva served out the match, clinching it with a powerful crosscourt forehand as she raced to the net. "She plays all the time very regular and I was irregular, up and down." Medina Garrigues said. "I couldn't play my game during all the match." In the second match, Kuznetsova was never in trouble against the 20-year-old Suarez Navarro, who struggled with her serve and had five double faults. The 23-year-old Russian clinched the match point with a long forehand that bounced on the baseline. "Finals like this are very special, but I haven't been good enough today," Suarez Navarro said. "She made me play well back and my balls just didn't do her any damage." The reverse singles are held Sunday, with a doubles match held as a tiebreaker if necessary.

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