Spain leads Japan in Fed Cup play

Carla Suarez and Silvia Soler-Espinosa won singles matches on Saturday to give Spain a 2-0 lead over Japan in the Fed Cup World Group playoffs.

Suarez beat Misaki Doi 6-3, 6-4 in the first match and Soler-Espinosa later defeated Ayumi Morita 6-2, 6-3.

Suarez won the first set with relative ease on the outdoor clay court at Real Club de Polo tennis club.

Spain's top-ranked player took a 4-1 lead before losing three straight games. But Doi hit her ninth double-fault to drop serve, allowing Suarez to wrap up the match when the Japanese player netted her return.

Soler-Espinosa's reliable serve helped her ease past Morita. She was broken only once in the match.

Reverse singles and doubles will be played Sunday.