Russia takes 2-0 lead over Poland in 1st round of Fed Cup

Posted February 06, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

KRAKOW, Poland (AP) - Russia took a 2-0 lead over Poland in the first round of the Fed Cup on Saturday after Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova took turns beating the Radwanska sisters.

Kuznetsova started by defeating Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 and Sharapova followed up with an easy 6-0, 6-3 win over younger sister Urszula Radwanska to give Russia a commanding lead in its first ever Fed Cup meeting with Poland.

The eighth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska was broken twice in the final set in her hometown of Krakow as Kuznetsova wrapped up the win in 2 hours, 15 minutes in front of a crowd of some 15,000.

Both players struggled to hold serve in the first two sets, which featured a combined nine breaks.

"It was a great match, much tougher that that the results of the sets would suggest," Kuznetsova said. "The situation changed many times. In the second set I lost some of the concentration, but I won important exchanges in the third."

On Sunday, Agnieszka Radwanska plays Sharapova and Urszula plays Kuznetsova, followed by a doubles match if necessary.

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska returns a ball to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during Fed Cup World Group first round match between Poland and Russia in Krakow, Poland, Saturday, Feb.7, 2015. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) The Associated Press

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