SAN DIEGO(AP) Francesca Schiavone got defending champion Italy off to a fast start in the Fed Cup with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against 18-year-old CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States on Saturday.
Schiavone, the French Open winner, needed 1 hour, 23 minutes to put away Vandeweghe, who was making her Fed Cup debut. Vandeweghe grew up in the luxury enclave of Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County and is the niece of former NBA star Kiki Vandeweghe.
Vandeweghe tied the second set at 4-4 by breaking Schiavone's serve. The Italian was too strong, though. She broke Vandeweghe's serve, then won the match when Vandeweghe hit a backhand service return into the net.
U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez picked Vandeweghe over Melanie Oudin based on her big serves and heavy groundstrokes.