USA flying high in Fed Cup

MELANIE Oudin put the USA in the driving seat in their Fed Cup World Group tie with France today after defeating Pauline Parmentier in straight sets. 

FLYING THE FLAG: Melanie Oudin helps the USA on their way to a 2-0 lead in the Fed Cup (Getty Images)

Earlier in the day Bethanie Mattek-Sands had defeated Alize Cornet 7-6, 7-5 while Oudin came through against Parmentier 6-4, 6-4 in Lievin.

The Americans, who are ranked third in the world, now need just one win from their remaining three matches on Sunday to secure a semi final spot.

Elsewhere, the Czech Republic and visiting Germany are all square in their first round tie in Brno with the winners meeting either defending champions Italy or Ukraine for a berth in the final.

Both better-ranked players on the WTA Tour lost in straight sets with Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld brushing aside Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2 in just 52 minutes and Petra Kvitova redressing the balance with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Andrea Petkovic.

Also, going into the second day tied at 1-1 are the Ukraine and Italy after 2004 junior Wimbledon champion Kateryna Bondarenko was beaten by Italy's Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-3 in Kharkiv.

Kateryna's sister Alona had put the Ukranians ahead earlier in the day as she defeated Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-4.

It is also level between Serbia and Russia in Belgrade after Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame Ana Ivanovic in straight sets before Jelena Jankovic claimed a point for Serbia sealing a hard fought victory over Alisa Kleybanova 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Meanwhile, in the World Group II the Slovak Republic hold a 2-0 lead over China, Estonia secured two victories against Argentina and it is all square at 1-1 between Spain and Australia and Belgium and Poland.

The first round winners of the World Group II go on to compete in the World Group play-off ties with the losers from the first round of the World Group.