MASPALOMAS, Oct 30: Gran Canaria, Oct 30: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario extended her record of Fed Cup wins to 72 on Wednesday when she beat Austria’s Barbara Schett 6-3 7-6 to give Spain a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal.

Earlier, her team mate Conchita Martinez beat Patricia Wartusch 6-0 7-5 to keep them on course to win the title for a sixth time.

Former Wimbledon champion Martinez, a member of all five of Spain’s cup-winning teams since they first won the title in 1991, said the Fed Cup was still important.

The second semifinal, between Slovakia and Italy, was scheduled for late Wednesday.—Reuters