France defeat Czech Republic

Sandrine Testud and Amelie Mauresmo clinched straight sets victories on Thursday to set up a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup finals.

Russia recorded their second straight win in group A, defeating a weakened Argentina side with singles wins from Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva.

Thursday's results mean Russia, who beat the Czech Republic on the opening day, can make certain of top spot with victory over France on Friday.

If France win, they will just need to beat Argentina in their final match on Saturday to be certain of playing the winners of group B in Sunday's final.

The group B winner is likely to be either Belgium or Spain, although Germany kept alive their slim hopes of pipping the two favourites with victory over Australia on Thursday.

FRENCH SPARKLE

The pick of the day's performances came from France, with Testud and Mauresmo in sparkling form.

Testud battled through the first set against Kveta Hrdlickova and then raced away with the second to win 6-4 6-1, looking increasingly comfortable on the indoor clay surface as the match went on.

"It wasn't a bad performance for my first match on clay since the French Open," said Testud.

"I started playing well in the second set. I had to be more aggressive."

Mauresmo played with heavy strapping around her right thigh but appeared untroubled by the injury as she outpunched the tenacious Denisa Chladkova 6-2 7-5.

Testud then teamed up with Nathalie Tauziat to beat Petra Cetkovska and Alena Vaskova 6-3, 6-2 in the doubles and complete a 3-0 victory that means the Czechs can now not make it through to the final.

Russia's task against Argentina was made easier by the absence of their leading player Paola Suarez, who was suffering from an ankle injury.

Petrova cruised to a 6-4 6-3 win over Clarisa Fernandez to give them the first point.

World number 15 Dementieva then proved far too classy for Maria Emilia Salerni, playing some superb tennis on her way to a 6-1, 6-2 success.

"It should be an interesting match against France," said Dementieva. "They have a good squad, with three players in the top 20, and it will be tough."

DANGEROUS RUSSIANS

France were grateful to wrap up their victory over the Czechs in quick time, with Friday's match against the dangerous Russians to come.

"With this format, you have to win quickly," Mauresmo said after her victory over Chladkova. "That's what we were trying to do.

"I felt good on court but I didn't want to go to a third set."

A deciding set never looked on the cards as Mauresmo, the world number nine, produced some fearsome groundstrokes to take the first set in 33 minutes and then move 3-1 ahead in the second.

Chladkova forced her way back into the match, breaking back in game seven and then saving two match points as she served to stay in the match at 4-5.

She could not repeat the feat at 5-6, though, a superb wrong-footing backhand cross court giving Mauresmo the match in one hour 18 minutes.

In the opening game on centre court, world number 11 Testud edged the first set and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second before Hrdlickova hinted at a comeback, taking the second of three break points in game four as her opponent put a forehand wildly long.

Hrdlickova could not consolidate, however, and Testud ran out a comfortable winner in 65 minutes.

In the one group B match on Thursday, Bianka Lamade and Barbara Rittner set Germany on their way to victory over Australia with gritty performances in the singles.

Lamade beat Alicia Molik 7-6, 7-5 before Rittner came from 1-4 down in the deciding set to beat Nicole Pratt 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.