U.S. clinches Fed Cup victory over Belarus

WORCESTER, Mass. - Christina McHale won in straight sets for the second straight day, beating Darya Kustova, 6-0, 6-1, to put the United States ahead 4-0 against Belarus in Fed Cup play yesterday.

Serena Williams had already guaranteed a U.S. victory earlier in the day by beating Anastasiya Yakimova, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, sending the United States to a Fed Cup playoff in April.

Venus Williams and Liezel Huber completed the shutout with a doubles victory, defeating Darya Kustova and Anastasiya Yakimova, 6-1, 6-2, in Williams's first sanctioned match since the opening round of the U.S. Open.

The Americans are trying to play their way back into the Fed Cup top tier after getting bounced last year.