Japan take 2-0 lead over Slovenia in Fed Cup

MIKI, Japan: Japanese number one Ayumi Morita overcame a slow start to beat Nastja Kolar and give Japan a 2-0 lead over Slovenia in the Fed Cup tennis World Group II first round tie on Saturday.

The 21-year-old ace, who received the Fed Cup Heart Award last year, stormed back from a set down to score a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over the 245th-ranked Slovenian Fed Cup debutant.

Earlier in the day, former world number four Kimiko Date-Krumm pulled off a similar scoreline to beat Slovenia's top player Polona Hercog 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to put Japan one up.

Sunday will see two reverse singles, followed by a doubles match with Morita and Rika Fujiwara, who will play Hercog and Andreja Klepac.

The winners of the tie will reach a play-off against the first-round losers of the World Group. (AFP)