Fed Cup: Chakvetadze beats King to give Russia 1-0 lead over United States

Anna Chakvetadze defeated Vania King 6-4, 7-5 in the opening singles Saturday to give Russia a 1-0 lead over the United States in the World Group semifinal match of the Fed Cup.

Ahsha Rolle later played fourth-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second singles match.

The United States has won a record 17 Fed Cup titles, but its last triumph came in 2000. Russia has won three titles in the last four years and has not lost at home since hosting France in 2003.

Russia has also won the last two of their six overall meetings, with the Americans taking the previous four.

The winner will play either Spain or China for the title in September.