PRAGUE (Reuters) – Daria Kasatkina overpowered Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann 6-2 6-4 to put Russia up 1-0 in the Billie Jean King Cup final on Saturday and a win away from claiming their fifth title.
The world number 28 broke Teichmann in the opening game and cruised through the first set. The Swiss held her serve for much of the second set before the Russian again took command.
Switzerland are making only their second appearance in the finals of what was formerly known as the Fed Cup, taking on a Russian squad with players all in the world’s top 40.
Russia are competing in Prague as the Russian Tennis Federation due to sanctions that prevent them using their country’s flag and anthem due to doping scandals.
In the second match, Swiss leader Belinda Bencic will face Liudmila Samsonova, who replaces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after the top Russian player withdrew with a left knee injury.
(Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
