Spain had taken the lead earlier in the day when Roland Garros champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario downed Lisa Raymond 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-0 before an adoring home country crowd.

Croats, Dutch deadlocked

BOL, (CROATIA): Amanda Hopmans of the Netherlands, the world No 168, crushed Iva Majoli, the 1997 French Open champion and WTA's No 20, 6-1, 6-0 in the Federation Cup World Group 1 qualifying round today.

The result was nevertheless 1-1 as Croatia's Silvija Talaja, ranked 145th, defeated the Dutch Miriam Oremans, who is 45th, 6-3, 6-3.

Italy lead 2-0

PRAGUE: Silvia Farina steamrolled Radka Bobkova 6-0, 6-4 and Rita Grande outplayed Kveta Hrdlickova 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 to give Italy a 2-0 lead over the Czech Republic in a play-off Fed Cup.

Russia in command

MOSCOW: Russia, playing without stars Anna Kournikova andElena Likhovtseva, took a 2-0 lead over Germany today when Tatiana Panova beat Andrea Glass 6-3, 6-1 and Yelena Makarova defeated Anke Huber 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) in the Fed Cup World Group I playoffs.

Aussies prevail

CANBERRA: Nicole Pratt and Jelena Dokic won their reverse singles matches today as Australia beat Argentina 5-0 in their Fed Cup World Group two regional qualifying play-off tie. In another Fed Cup World Group two qualifying play-off Japan beat South Korea 4-1 after the reverse singles and the doubles.