Kenin gives US early lead over Latvia in Fed Cup

 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-2, 6-2 on Friday night to give United States a 1-0 le over Latvia in its Fed Cup match.

Six days removed from winning her first Grand Slam tournament title, Kenin overwhelmed Sevastova using a pair of breaks in first set, cruising to victory in just over an hour.

Serena Williams was set to face Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in Friday’s second match of best-of-five matchup. Ostapenko, 2017 French Open champion, is ranked 40th in world. Williams will be playing in her first Fed Cup match since 2018, when she played doubles with her sister, Venus. Williams is 13-0 all-time in Fed Cup singles matches, but hasn’t played singles in tournament since 2015.

Kenin, highest ranked American in world at . 7, defeated Sevastova for second time in a month after earning a straight-set victory last month in Brisbane.

Kenin broke Sevastova twice in opening set, both times coming from way behind and showing same resolve that defined her title in Melbourne. Kenin trailed love-40 in third game of match, but won next five points to take a 2-1 le. Kenin held serve at love in next game for a 3-1 le

Kenin rallied from a 15-40 deficit in next game and eventually went to deuce with Sevastova six times. On sixth deuce, Kenin gained vant when her slice backhand caught top of net and trickled over. Kenin finally took a 4-1 le in set when she guessed correctly off a defensive lob. Kenin stabbed Sevastova’s overhe smash into open court for a forehand winner.

Kenin broke Sevastova in opening game of second set and again to go up 4-1. She closed out match with a forehand winner, her 26th winner of match.