France make flying start
France make flying start 
From correspondents in Tokyo, Japan
Former Australian Captain April 26, 2008
FORMER world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo starred as France took a 2-0 lead over Japan in the Fed Cup World Group play-off in Japan.
The 2006 Wimbledon and Australian Open champion needed only 58 minutes to defeat up-and-coming Ayumi Morita 6-0 6-2 before beat former world doubles No.1 Ai Sugiyama 6-1 7-5.
“I played a good match,” Mauresmo said. “(Morita) was probably
a little bit tight, playing this first match today, opening this tie at home for her. I just felt comfortable out there and I’m happy to take France to have the first point and lead 1-0.”
Mauresmo won the first nine games before Morita finally got into her rhythm, by which time it was already too late for the Japanes player to get back into the match as the Frenchwoman stood firm in her service games.
“I was expecting her to really try to play with a lot of speed, picking the ball up pretty early and moving me around,” Mauresmo said.
“I just tried to take every opportunity that I would have and not make too many unforced errors, which I was able to do. I also try to play good in my service games. On this very fast surface, it’s important.”
Morita, 18, admitted that she was tense at the beginning of the match because it was the first time that she played an opening match in the Fed Cup.
“Amelie combined some fast balls with slow ones by hitting slices and then suddenly hit hard for a winner,” Morita said.
“I was too slow to reflect against them and I couldn’t play in my rhythm.
“Even if I’m not nervous, my first serves are no good, and I was tight and I often mis-hit my strokes, which always didn’t get past the net or went long. I couldn’t control anything at all.”
Agence France-Presse