Russia [Images] closed in on a Fed Cup semi-final victory over the United States on Saturday after Anastasia Myskina [Images] clawed past Wimbledon champion Venus Williams [Images] in Moscow's [Images] Olympic Stadium.

Her 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory coupled with Elena Dementieva's hot and cold 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Fed Cup debutant Mashona Washington gave defending champions Russia a 2-0 lead and put them within touching distance of a first win over the 17-times champions.

In Aix-en-Provence France [Images] also dominated the opening day of their semi-final with Spain, Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce winning their singles matches in straight sets.

Barring some seismic shifts on Sunday this year's final looks set to be a repeat of the 2004 edition when Russia beat France 3-2 in Moscow.

Just seven days ago Venus was joyfully bounding around Wimbledon's Centre Court after claiming her third title at the All England [Images] Club.

Against Myskina on a slow indoor clay court, however, she started brightly before fading away against the feisty Russian who was hugged by former Russian president Boris Yeltsin at the end of the match.

"I was quite nervous at the beginning," said Myskina, who turned 24 on Friday.

"It was the first match, the first point (in the tie). Besides, I wasn't just playing an ordinary player. I was up against Venus Williams, the Wimbledon champion."

Dementieva, the world number five, threatened to undo all Myskina's good work as she trailed 0-4 and 1-5 to the 52nd-ranked Washington who was called up after world number one Lindsay Davenport [Images] pulled out with a back injury.

TOUGH DAY

Eventually she rediscovered her poise to claim the victory that leaves the Americans, who have not won the Fed Cup since 2000, staring defeat in the face.

"It was a tough day but I'll try to do better tomorrow," said the 25-year-old Venus, who suffered defeat in a Fed Cup rubber for only the second time in her career.

The five-times grand slam winner will have to beat Dementieva on Sunday to keep the tie alive.

Pierce celebrated her first Fed Cup appearance on French soil since 1996 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Spain's Nuria Llagostera-Vives.

One break of serve in each set was enough for the 30-year-old French Open runner-up as she built on Mauresmo's earlier 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Anabel Medina Garrigues.

World number three Mauresmo dropped serve twice in the first set but she did enough to claim a 14th consecutive victory in Fed Cup play.

"I didn't play that well but I won and that's all that matters," said the Wimbledon semi-finalist who can book France a third successive final on Sunday if she beats Llagostera-Vives.

While most attention was focussed on the semi-finals, eight other nations were battling for places in next year's eight-team World Group I.

Belgium, who were thrashed by the U.S. in the first round this year, were locked at 1-1 with Argentina in their play off in Bree.

Former world number one Kim Clijsters [Images], playing her first Fed Cup match for more than a year, got the hosts off to a flying start by thrashing Mariana Diaz-Oliva 6-1, 6-2.

However Els Callens crashed to Gisela Dulko to leave Belgium's hopes of being in next year's top flight hanging in the balance.

"If Gisela plays like she did today (against Clijsters on Sunday) then I think she can win," said Argentina captain Ricardo Rivera.

Elsewhere in play off action Austria moved into a 2-0 lead against Alpine rivals Switzerland [Images], while the matches between Croatia and Germany [Images] and Czech Republic and Italy [Images] were evenly poised at 1-1.

In a World Group II play off China's Na Li overpowered Andreja Kleplac to draw her side level after with Slovenia in Beijing [Images].

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