USA Advances in Fed Cup

LA JOLLA, California (Ticker) -- The United States swept both singles matches against Germany on Monday to advance to the semifinals of the Fed Cup. Lindsay Davenport bounced back from a surprising loss on Saturday by dominating Germany's Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-2 to give the United States a 2-1 lead in the tie. Ashley Harkleroad sealed the victory with a hard-earned 6-4, 7-5 victory over Sabine Lisicki, giving the Americans an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five format. Davenport and Lisa Raymond are scheduled to face Georges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld in doubles action.

Harkleroad's win guaranteed that the U.S. will advance to a semifinal April 26-27 against defending champion Russia, which defeated Israel, 4-1, on Sunday. Germany hasn't won this event since 1992 and is now 4-8 against the U.S. Lisicki handed 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. Sloppy play did in the Davenport as she committed 43 unforced errors in the 84-minute match. Harkleroad did bring the United States even with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Tatjana Malek.

The United States has the most Fed Cup titles (17) and finals appearances (26), but it has not hoisted the trophy since defeating Spain in 2000. Austria is a distant second with seven Fed Cup crowns. Davenport, who last played for the U.S. team in 2005, has been the feel-good story of American tennis during the past five months. The 31-year-old returned to the WTA Tour in September following an 11-month absence to give birth to her first child. Since returning, the former No. 1 has gone 19-2 and captured three titles. Prior to the Fed Cup, Davenport lost in the second round of the Australian Open to Russia's Maria Sharapova, who went on to win the Grand Slam event. Since her debut with the team in 1993, Davenport has a 32-3 record in Fed Cup play, including a perfect 6-0 mark in doubles competition. She has led the team to three titles and five finals.

Photo: Lindsay Davenport serves in her straight sets win over Julia Goerges. (Jonathan Greene/NC Sports)