(Updates after second match)
BRINDISI, Italy, April 23 - Elena Dementieva
brought champions Russia level 1-1 with Italy after the opening
day of their Fed Cup tie on Saturday when the world number five
won 6-4 6-3 against Tathiana Garbin.
Playing in the Fed Cup for the first time since 2003 in a
weakened Russian team, Dementieva was always in control on the
red clay at Puglia, winning eight of her 11 break points.
Italy had taken a 1-0 lead in the World Group One tie after
Francesca Schiavone beat Dinara Safina 7-5 6-3.
The Russian squad, which won the competition for the first
time last year, are without French Open champion Anastasia
Myskina, Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova and U.S Open holder
Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Schiavone is leading Italy's challenge in the World Group
One tie after their top-ranked woman Silvia Farina-Elia retired
from Fed Cup duty and Falvia Penetta was forced out by injury.
In an enthralling opening match Safina, the sister of Marat
Safin making her Fed Cup debut, showed great promise with
excellent power play in the first set. But too often the
18-year-old made errors at vital moments.
Safina converted just one of her 12 break points and she
will be disappointed not to have produced a single ace.
"It certainly wasn't as easy as it might have looked from
the stands," said Schiavone.
"I was able to put her under pressure though and I served
well. The match tomorrow should be really entertaining becuase I
am very motivated for it now."
On Sunday Schiavone takes on Dementieva in what should be
the match of the tie while Garbin and Safina face off in the
fourth singles match.
The doubles features Garbin and Schiavone for Italy while
Elena Bovina steps in to partner Dementieva for the champions.