Russia, France take 2-0 leads in Fed Cup

MOSCOW, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Russia and France swept their opening matches Wednesday in the women's tennis Fed Cup semifinals in Moscow.

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Myskina of the Russian team overwhelmed Austrian opponents Yvonne Meusburger and Patricia Wartusch.

Kuznetsova, the U.S. Open champion, beat Meusberger 6-1, 6-1 and Myskina, winner of the French Open, walloped Wartusch 6-0, 6-0 in a match that lasted only 41 minutes.

"It can't be a bad season when you win a Grand Slam, but we have to now play the most important tournament of the year, this one, and we want to win it," Kuznetsova said.

On the other side of the semifinal draw, Tatiana Golovin and Nathalie Dechy of the defending champion French team won their matches over Spanish opponents.

Golovin defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3,6-3 and Dechy beat Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 6-2, 6-4.

The players will switch opponents in continued singles play Thursday with Russia and France each needing one victory to clinch a berth in the weekend finals.