Maria Sharapova: On her way to victory over Urszula Radwanska
Maria Sharapova defeated Urszula Radwanska 6-0 6-3 as Russia took a 2-0 lead over Poland in the Fed Cup World Group quarter-finals on Saturday.
Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Krakow earlier in the day as four-time champions Russia moved closer to securing a last-four berth.
Sharapova is competing in just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut as she bids to earn her place in the national team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Moscow.
All players must make themselves available for the Fed Cup in order to be considered for Olympic selection and world No 2 Sharapova wasted little time in seeing off Radwanska.
Kuznetsova had already beaten the elder Radwanska sister in 10 of their 14 matches and Kuznetsova claimed victory with an ace on her first match point after two hours and 17 minutes.
Sunday's opening reverse singles will be between Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska, with the Polish player knowing she must win to keep the tie alive.
Advantage
Sharapova holds an 11-2 advantage in meetings between the two and has not lost to Radwanska since the Miami final in 2012.
"It was important to start strong. I had a little bit of a let-down in the second set and she got a bit steadier," said Sharapova.
"I'm happy to get through in straight sets."
Elsewhere, 2013 champions Italy lead France 2-0.
Sara Errani defeated Caroline Garcia 7-6 7-5 to give Italy the lead in Genoa before world No 31 Camila Giorgi made it 2-0 with a 6-4 6-2 win over Alize Cornet.
In Stuttgart, Australia began well against Germany as world No 54 Jarmila Gajdosova defeated10th-ranked Angelique Kerber 4-6 6-2 6-4.
But the hosts levelled when Andrea Petkovic won a three-hour epic with Samantha Stosur 6-4 3-6 12-10.
In the other quarter-final, champions Czech Republic won both Saturday’s rubbers against Canada in Quebec.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was ruled out through injury but Karolina Pliskova and Tereza Smitkova won their openers ion her absence, defeating Francoise Abanda and Gabriela Dabrowski, respectively.
Meanwhile, in World Group II, record 17-time champions USA eased to a 2-0 lead over Argentina in Buenos Aires thanks to the Williams sisters.
Venus defeated Paula Ormaechea 6-3 6-2 before world No 1 Serena defeated Maria Irigoyen 7-5 6-0.
Saturday's Fed Cup World Group quarter-final results:
RUSSIA 2-0 POLAND
M Sharapova (Rus) bt U Radwanska (Pol) 6-0 6-3
S Kuznetsova (Rus) bt A Radwanska (Pol) 6-4 2-6 6-2
CZECH REPUBLIC 2-0 CANADA
T Smitkova (Cze) bt G Dabrowski (Can) 6-1 6-2
K Pliskova (Cze) bt F Abanda (Can) 6-2 6-4
ITALY 2-0 FRANCE
S Errani (Ita) bt C Garcia (Fra) 7-6 (7-2) 7-5
C Giorgi (Ita) bt A Cornet (Fra) 6-4 6-2
GERMANY 1-1 AUSTRALIA
A Petkovic (Ger) bt S Stosur (Aus) 6-4 3-6 12-10
J Gajdosova (Aus) bt A Kerber (Germany) 4-6 6-2 6-4