ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Australian Open winner Kim Clijsters and Yanina Wickmayer beat their U.S. opponents in straight sets Saturday to give Belgium a 2-0 lead in their first-round Fed Cup matchup.
Wickmayer defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 7-6 (6), and Clijsters followed with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Melanie Oudin.
Clijsters is a favorite to clinch the event when she plays Mattek-Sands in Sunday’s first reverse singles.
The United States is playing without the injured Williams sisters. Venus Williams injured her groin at the Australian Open, and Serena Williams has been sidelined with a foot injury since winning Wimbledon.
Belgium is without Justine Henin, who retired last week because of an elbow injury.
