Fed Cup updates

France and Belarus were in command of their Fed Cup first-round ties while 2018 finalists Czech Republic and United States were even in their ties on Saturday. Australian Open semifinalist Karolina Pliskova won the first point for the Czechs against Romania after easing past Mihaela Burzanescu 6-1, 6-4 on an indoor hard-court in Ostrava, Czech Republic. But Simona Halep won the second singles by routing Katerina Siniakova, the star of last year’s final victory against the United States, 6-4, 6-0. Pliskova and Halep, both former world No. 1s, will meet in the key first reverse singles today. In Asheville, N.C., the U.S. came back to split the opening singles with Australia. Ashleigh Barty gave Australia a good start in its bid to end a 35-year losing drought to the U.S. by hitting 10 aces past Sofia Kenin in winning 6-1, 7-6 (2). But Madison Keys then took only an hour to defeat Kimberly Birrell, playing her first tie in three years, 6-2, 6-2.