US Splits Opening Fed Cup Matches With Germany

LA JOLLA, California (Ticker) -- Germany's Sabine Lisicki handed Lindsay Davenport her first defeat in a Fed Cup match since 1994 with a 6-1, 7-5 victory on Saturday. Ranked 130th in the world, the 18-year-old Lisicki recorded 15 aces - and overcame 11 double faults - to end Davenport's 19-match winning streak.

"Obviously, (I'm) disappointed with the way I went out there and played," Davenport said. "But at the same time, she played very well and (that) had a lot to do with that. I never felt great all day." Sloppy play did in the Davenport as she committed 43 unforced errors in the one-hour, 24-minute match. "It's just a match as any other," Lisicki said. "So I'm going into a match wanting to win. I'm not just going on the court to play. I went on the court and I wanted to win. I didn't want to go and lose. ... I thought well, if I play well, I have my chances."

Ashley Harkleroad topped Germany's Tatjana Malek, 6-1, 6-3, to draw the Americans even in the first round of the International Tennis Federation event. "After she (Davenport) lost, I really just tried to focus on my game," Harkleroad said. "And just going out and enjoying the opportunity to be out there since this is my first Fed Cup.