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Japan trails France in Fed Cup match
LIMOGES, France Japanese No. 1 Ai Sugiyama and Akiko Morigami lost their singles matches against France in the first round of the Fed Cup World Group on Saturday, leaving the country one loss away from elimination.
In the opening match against Nathalie Dechy, Sugiyama dropped the first set 7-5 as she double-faulted on set point in the 12th game. She could not fight back and lost 6-1 in the second set at the Palais des Sports Beaublanc.
"I started well, but I just couldn't convert break points," said Sugiyama, who converted just one of her eight break chances.
"In the second set, I tried to go too aggressively and made a lot of mistakes."
Morigami suffered a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Tatiana Golovin.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Sugiyama plays Golovin and Morigami takes on Dechy. Sugiyama and 17-year-old Ayumi Morita face Golovin and Severine Bremond in doubles.
Japan is making its first appearance in 10 years in the eight-nation World Group.
Meanwhile, Russia, France, Italy and the United States each took 2-0 leads in the first round.
Ninth-ranked Nadia Petrova and No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova, the two highest-ranked players competing this weekend in World Group I, got singles wins for Russia in the best-of-five series against Spain.
Defending champion Italy won both singles matches against China as did the United States against Belgium.
Venus Williams struggled early, but gave the Americans the lead by beating Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2 on outdoor hard courts in Delray Beach, Florida.
"It was windy, and I rushed a few shots in that first set," said Williams, who won her final six service games.
Her sister, surprise Australian Open champion Serena Williams, then easily beat Caroline Maes 6-1, 6-4.
The reverse singles and doubles matches are set for Sunday. Lisa Raymond and Vania King will face Yanina Wickmayer and Tamaryn Hendler in doubles after the reverse singles.
Petrova gave Russia the lead by beating Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-4 on clay in Moscow at the Luzhniki indoor arena. Petrova trailed 4-1 in the second set before winning four consecutive games.
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