Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe give US the lead in Fed Cup
Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe gave the United States a 2-0 lead in their Fed Cup World Group quarter-final tie against the Netherlands.
Williams had no problems easing past Arantxa Rus as she won the opening rubber 6-1, 6-4 to give the hosts the early advantage in Asheville, North Carolina.
With the win, the seven-time Grand Slam winner became only the fourth American after Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Lindsay Davenport to win 20 or more Fed Cup singles matches.
“It’s never easy and it’s always a challenge,” Williams said. “On paper, today I looked like I should win but it was a battle and I‘m glad to get through that.”
World number 17 Vandeweghe had a more difficult encounter as she had to come from a set down to beat Richel Hogenkamp 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
Former world No 1 Serena Williams is set to make her return to competitive tennis after giving birth as she has been pencilled in to compete in the doubles alongside Lauren Davis.
Meanwhile, it is all square in the Belarus-Germany tie in Minsk after Aryna Sabalenka beat Tatjana Maria 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 to give the hosts the lead before Antonia Lottner levelled things for Germany with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
It is also 1-1 in the tie between Belgium and France as Elise Mertens beat Pauline Parmentier 6-2, 6-1 to give Belgium the lead, but Kristina Mladenovic then beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-4.
The Czech Republic have a commanding 2-0 lead over Switzerland after Petra Kvitova beat Viktorija Golubic while Barbara Strycova got the better of Belinda Bencic.
Latest
-
-
ATP TourMontreal Masters: How to watch Cameron Norrie in action
Cameron Norrie is the first of three Brits in action in the singles in Montreal today.
-
Tennis NewsMike Tyson marvels at transformative power of tennis
Mike Tyson’s daughter Milan is a budding tennis star.
-
WTA TourCoco Gauff moves on but Emma Raducanu suffers first-round exit in Toronto
The British number one was beaten 7-6 (0) 6-2 by Camila Giorgi but fellow teen sensation Coco Gauff moved on.
-
ATP TourNick Kyrgios has mixed feelings ahead of Daniil Medvedev showdown
Nick Kyrgios faces a test of his rich vein of form.
-
NewsCameron Norrie carries British hopes in Montreal as Andy Murray falls
Norrie is chasing his third ATP Tour title of the year after going down in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the final in Los Cabos.
-
US OpenSerena Williams retirement: Greg Rusedski not discounting ‘box office’ Serena to retire on a high at US Open
Serena Williams to bow out on a high by winning the US Open?
-
NewsSerena Williams retirement: Tennis might never see such a remarkable icon ever again
The remarkable career of Serena Williams is drawing to a close.
-
WTA TourSerena Williams’ greatest milestones as she prepares to bid farewell: Open Era Grand Slam record, prize money
Serena Williams has had quite a career.
-
WTA TourSerena Williams confirms she will retire after US Open, but doesn’t want ‘ceremonial, final on-court moment’
Time to shed a tear or two, the great Serena Wiliams is to retire after the US Open.