Ukraine, Italy evenly poised

There were mixed fortunes for the Bondarenko sisters in Kharkiv as Ukraine and defending champion Italy finished day one of their Fed Cup World Group first-round tie locked at 1-1.

World No.26 Alona Bondarenko put the hosts one up with a convincing win in the opening rubber, beating Francesca Schiavone 6-1 6-4.

But Flavia Pennetta got the Italians back on terms with a 7-5 6-3 triumph against Alona's younger sibling, Kateryna Bondarenko, in the second clash.

In Belgrade, Jelena Jankovic battled from a set down to beat Alisa Kleybanova 4-6 6-4 6-0 to level things up against Russia.

Earlier in the day, French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic 6-1 6-4 to give the Russians the upper hand.

The match between Czech Republic and Germany in Brno was also finely poised after the opening singles.

Anna-Lena Groenefeld put the visitors in the ascendancy with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Lucie Safarova but Petra Kvitova edged Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-4 to ensure there will be all to play for in the reverse singles on Sunday.

The United States put one foot in the semi-finals with wins in both of its singles rubbers against France in Lievin.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands gave the Americans the perfect start with a 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 triumph over Alize Cornet and then Melanie Oudin saw off Pauline Parmentier 6-4 6-4.