MOSCOW, Nov 24: Nathalie Dechy eased to a 6-2 6-4 win over Maria Sanchez Lorenzo to give Fed Cup champions France a commanding 2-0 lead in their semifinal against Spain on Wednesday.

Earlier, Tatiana Golovin, making her singles debut in the competition, beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-3 to give an under-strength French team the early advantage. Hot favourites Russia take on outsiders Austria in the second semi-final later on Wednesday.

With world number two Amelie Mauresmo and 2000 French Open champion Mary Pierce, who led France to their second Fed Cup title a year ago in Moscow, missing this year's tie, 16-year-old Golovin was left to carry her country's hopes.

After a series of early service breaks, Moscow-born Golovin finally held serve in the ninth game to take the opening set 6-3. In the second set, she earned a decisive break in the fifth game before wrapping up the match after 94 minutes.

Medina Garrigues said she felt nervous right from the start. Dechy, the highest-ranked non-Russian player in the finals at 21, had little trouble against Sanchez Lorenzo, the world number 52.

After sweeping through the opening set in 28 minutes, the 35-year-old Frenchwoman led 5-4 and 30-0 in the second set when the Spaniard appeared to pull a thigh muscle. After receiving medical treatment on court, Sanchez Lorenzo was able to continue but lost the next two points as Dechy wrapped up victory in just over one hour.

Meanwhile, French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and U.S. Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova gave favourites Russia a flying start in their semifinal against Austria by winning both of their singles matches.

Kuznetsova trounced Austrian number one Yvonne Meusburger 6-1 6-1 in the opening rubber and Myskina crushed Patricia Wartusch 6-0 6-0 to put the home side on the verge of their first Fed Cup final since 2001.

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