PORTSCHACH (Austria), July 20: Austria were on the verge of equalling their best ever Fed Cup showing after taking a commanding 2-0 lead over Croatia in the quarterfinals Saturday.

The hosts need to win only one of Sunday’s three matches to reach their first semi-final in the team event since 1990.

Barbara Schwartz, who spearheaded Austria’s shock 3-2 victory over the U.S. in the previous round by winning both of her singles matches in the April tie, gave the hosts a flying start with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Croatian number one Iva Majoli.

Barbara Schett then dished out a claycourt lesson to Jelena Kostanic, thrashing the 88th ranked player 6-2 6-1.

Fed Cup veteran Schett, who is playing her 10th year in the competition, was rarely troubled by Kostanic during the one- sided contest.

For Majoli, however, the defeat continued her miserable run in this year’s event.

Results: (Austrian names first)

Austria lead Croatia 2-0 (Austrian names first) Barbara Schwartz beat Iva Majoli 6-2 6-3; Barbara Schett beat Jelena Kostanic 6-2 6-1

Czech Republic lead Canada 1-0 (Czech names first) Barbora Strycova beat Maureen Drake 6-1 6-0

Sweden lead Switzerland 1-0 (Swedish names first) Sofia Arvidsson beat Patty Schnyder 6-2 6-2

Argentina lead Hungary 1-0 (Hungarian names first) Petra Mandula lost to Mariana Diaz-Oliva 5-7 2-6

Australia level 1-1 with Netherlands (Australian names first)

Evie Dominikovic lost to Miriam Oremans 4-6 3-6; Alicia Molik beat Kristie Boogert 1-6 6-2 10-8

Russia led China 2-0 (Russian names first)

Tatiana Panova beat Jie Zheng 6-3 6-1; Elena Dementieva beat Tian-Tian Sun 6-2 6-3.—Reuters