Tennis: Belarus win both singles on first day of Fed Cup tie against Germany

Belarus led Germany 2-0 after the opening day of their Fed Cup World Group first round match in Germany on Saturday. The visitors, finalists in 2017, were in command in Braunschweig after Aliaksandra Sasnovich beat Tatjana Maria 7-6 (3), 6-3, and Aryna Sabalenka dispatched Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-1. Belarus now need only a single point on Sunday to progress to April's semi-finals. If they get it they will also take revenge after losing 3-2 to Germany last year in Minsk. To survive, the hosts need to record three consecutive wins on Sunday against a team that still has two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka waiting in the wings.