Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova comfortably won their opening matches to help Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic respectively take 2-0 leads in their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers on Friday.
Playing a home against a Polish team missing the injured world number one Iga Swiatek, Kazakhstan stamped their authority over Poland on clay.
First, Yulia Putintseva stunned Magda Linette 7-5 6-3 before Wimbledon champion Rybakina doubled their advantage.
Rybakina fired nine aces and won three out of six break points in her 6-3 6-4 victory over Weronika Falkowska to put Kazakhstan in full control ahead of the final day’s action….