STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Christina McHale of the United States has lost to Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-3, 6-4 Saturday in the Fed Cup playoff.
Germany takes a 1-0 lead, with another singles match between American Melanie Oudin and Julia Goerges scheduled later in Stuttgart.
The 19th-ranked Petkovic led 4-0 in the second set before McHale rallied to within a game. But the German served out the match.
The winner of the best-of-five series will remain in the top-tier world group and the loser will be relegated to a lower division. The U.S. has won the competition a record 17 times but could drop down for the first time.
