Venus Williams wins; U.S. tied with Russia

Stowe, VT (Sports Network) - Venus Williams battled back in the first and third sets to defeat Nadia Petrova in three sets on Saturday to help the U.S. draw even with Russia in the semifinal showdown between the United States and visiting Russia after the first day of their Fed Cup semifinal matchup at Stowe's Stadium at Topnotch.
Williams, the 2007 Wimbledon champion, trailing 3-4 in the second, came back to with the next three games and walk away with a 7-6, 0-6, 6-4 win.
For the match, Petrova converted on 3-of-3 break points, while Williams was 0-3.
Earlier of Saturday, Russia's Anna Chakvetadze defeated U.S.'s Vania King 6-1, 6-3.
On Sunday, the reverse singles will pit the six-time major titlist Williams against Chakvetadze and King versus Petrova, while the potentially-deciding doubles calls for an American tandem of King and Lisa Raymond to battle a Russian duo of Petrova and Elena Vesnina.
Former world No. 1 stars Serena Williams, of the U.S., and Russian Maria Sharapova and fourth-ranked Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova all pulled out of this week's semi due to injuries, leaving Venus as the biggest star on either roster.
The Americans are captained by Zina Garrison, while the Russians are skippered by Shamil Tarpischev. Garrison also has Meilen Tu at her disposal, while Tarpischev's roster also includes Alla Kudryavtseva.
The United States leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, with the last coming seven years ago.
The U.S. and Russia have met five times in Fed Cup play, with the Americans leading the all-time series 4-1. Russia won the most recent matchup, however, defeating the U.S. in the 2005 semis on the way to its second consecutive -- and second-ever -- Fed Cup crown.
The USA-Russia winner will meet the France-Italy victor in the World Group final in mid-September.

Mauresmo defeated; Italy tied with France

Castellaneta Marina, Italy (Sports Network) - Francesca Schiavone stunned former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo in straight sets Saturday to help Italy draw even with France after the first day of their Fed Cup semifinal matchup at Nova Yardina.
Schiavone, the 31st-ranked player in the world, followed a strong first set and an early break in the second to escape with the 7-5, 6-3 win. The Italian broke Mauresmo, the sixth ranked player, to go ahead 1-0 in the second and held serve the rest of the way on the red clay.
Earlier in the day, France's Tatiana Golovin defeated Italy's Tathiana Garbin, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
After Garbin won the final five games of the second to force the decisive set, the duo exchanged a pair of breaks early in the third. Then, on serve at 3-2, Golovin broke Garbin to take control on her way to winning the final four games of the set for the win.
For the match, Golovin converted 7-of-12 break points.
Sunday's reverse singles currently call for Garbin to take on Mauresmo and Schiavone to tangle with Golovin, while Sunday's potentially-deciding doubles rubber will pit an Italian tandem of Mara Santangelo and Roberta Vinci against a French duo of Severine Bremond and Nathalie Dechy.
France is captained by Georges Goven, while the hosts are skippered by Corrado Barazzutti.
The Italians corralled their first-ever Fed Cup championship last year by topping Belgium 3-2 in the final in Charleroi.
France is a two-time champion in this team event, capturing the chalice in 1997 and 2003. The French also posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2005.
The French are a commanding 6-1 all-time against the Italians, dating back to 1970, but Italy's lone victory in the series came in last year's opening round (4-1) in France.
Italy and France are two of only four nations to have competed in every Fed Cup.
The Italy-France winner will meet the United States-Russia victor in the World Group final in mid-September.

King will open for U.S. against Russia in Fed Cup semis

Stowe, VT (Sports Network) - American teenager Vania King will face Anna Chakvetadze in Saturday's opening singles rubber in the Fed Cup semifinal showdown between the United States and visiting Russia.
The best-of-five tie will be staged on a hardcourt at Stowe's Stadium at Topnotch on Saturday and Sunday. The USA-Russia winner will meet the France- Italy victor in the World Group final in mid-September.
The 18-year-old King and world No. 8 Chakvetadze will be followed on Saturday by a bout between Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and ninth-ranked Russian Nadia Petrova.
On Sunday, the reverse singles will pit the six-time major titlist Williams against Chakvetadze and King versus Petrova, while the potentially-deciding doubles calls for an American tandem of King and Lisa Raymond to battle a Russian duo of Petrova and Elena Vesnina.
Former world No. 1 stars Serena Williams, of the U.S., and Russian Maria Sharapova and fourth-ranked Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova all pulled out of this week's semi due to injuries, leaving Venus as the biggest star on either roster.
The Americans are captained by Zina Garrison, while the Russians are skippered by Shamil Tarpischev. Garrison also has Meilen Tu at her disposal, while Tarpischev's roster also includes Alla Kudryavtseva.
The United States leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, with the last coming seven years ago.
The U.S. and Russia have met five times in Fed Cup play, with the Americans leading the all-time series 4-1. Russia won the most recent matchup, however, defeating the U.S. in the 2005 semis on the way to its second consecutive -- and second-ever -- Fed Cup crown.

Sharapova pulls out of Fed Cup semis

Moscow, Russia (Sports Network) - Maria Sharapova will not play for the Russian team in this weekend's Fed Cup semifinal matchup against the United States.
The World No. 2 bowed out after struggling over the past few months with a shoulder problem.
"Over the past 48 hours I have consulted with my medical team and I have been advised that I need to rest my shoulder for the next 10 days with no activity," said Sharapova on her web site.
Sharapova is coming off a drubbing at the hands of eventual champion Venus Williams in the fourth round of Wimbledon last week,
The Russian star will be replaced by Elena Vesnina for the July 14-15 tie in Vermont.