Italy close in on Fed Cup

Pennetta: Fed Cup final winner

I didn't play a spectacular match but I played calmly. I think I was solid

Flavia Pennetta
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Italy are within touching distance of the Fed Cup after powering into a 2-0 lead against the USA on the first day of the 2009 final.

The USA went into the tie without both Williams sisters and youngsters Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin proved no match for their more experienced opponents.

The hosts recorded two comfortable singles wins on the clay in Reggio Calabria, with world number 11 Flavia Pennetta firstly seeing off Glatch.

The 20-year-old American struggled with her serve and was beaten 6-3 6-1 in little over an hour.

The last time the pair met at the French Open earlier this year Glatch secured an embarrassing 6-1 6-1 defeat over the Italian, who is 121 places her superior in the world rankings, but on this occasion Pennetta was dominant from the start.

Emotion

The 27-year-old winner admitted she had almost let the emotion of the Reggio Calabria final affect her performance.

"When I came on court I felt like crying due to the emotion of the event and hearing the anthem," said Pennetta.

"But I managed to get a grip on myself, I didn't play a spectacular match but I played calmly. I think I was solid.

"I felt more pressure in the last few days before the event with the whole build-up and expectation."

Glatch confessed Pennetta had greatly improved since the pair last met in Roland Garros.

"I think today she definitely played better than last time at the French Open," said Glatch.

"I was more aggressive in that match, and I probably should have tried to be in this match. I just wasn't able to do so. She definitely played better than she did last time."

Golden girl

18-year-old Oudin has emerged as the golden girl of American tennis this year when reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon and the quarter-finals of the US Open to climb into the world's top 50.

And she began well against Francesca Schiavone with an early break of serve but the Italian hit back and then took the opener on the tie-break.

The second set was much more straightforward for Schiavone, 11 years Oudin's senior, as she cruised to a 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 victory.

Oudin is scheduled to begin proceedings tomorrow against Pennetta, needing a victory to keep the USA's hopes alive, and Glatch will then take on Schiavone if the fourth rubber is needed.

Italy's only previous Fed Cup title came with a 3-2 win against Belgium in 2006 but they are unlikely to need a deciding rubber this time around.