S. Williams gives U.S. Fed Cup lead

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Serena Williams returned to Fed Cup play on Saturday, giving the United States a strong lineup for its Fed Cup match against Belarus.

That lineup became more imposing when world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was sidelined by a lower back injury.

The Americans capitalized with straight-set victories by Christina McHale and Williams for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series, which concludes today with two more singles matches and one in doubles.

McHale beat Anastasiya Yakimova 6-0, 6-4 before Williams overpowered Olga Govortsova 7-5, 6-0, leaving the U.S. team one victory away from advancing in the World Group II series.

Williams was inconsistent in the first set, winning the first three games before sputtering midway through as Govortsova tied it by winning three straight games.

Williams and Govortsova were tied at 5 before the American star won the last eight games of the match.

"I relaxed a little bit and started making more shots," said Williams, playing her first Fed Cup match since 2007. "I thought she played excellent in the first set. She played pretty well in the second set, but I didn't make as many errors."

Williams is scheduled to play Azarenka in the opening match today, but it might not happen because of the back injury that forced the Australian Open champion to withdraw earlier Saturday.

Lukas Lacko of Slovakia reached his first ATP final when he ousted 2007 champion Marcos Baghdatis 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the Zagreb Indoors semifinals in Zagreb, Croatia.

Lacko, playing on the main tour since 2007, will face third-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, who is seeking his eighth title in his 18th career final. Youzhny advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Michael Berrer of Germany.

Defending champion Gael Monfils saved a match point to edge Gilles Simon 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in an all-French match and reach the Open Sud de France final. Monfils will meet top-seeded Tomas Berdych, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-4.

College Football

West Virginia-Florida State game canceled: West Virginia has decided to cancel its Sept. 8 football game at Florida State. School officials informed Florida State late Friday they would pay a $350,000 escape fee to shelve the trip.

Florida State Athletic Director Randy Spetman said Saturday he's disappointed that West Virginia would not honor the first half of a home-and-home agreement that calls for Florida State to visit Morgantown, W.Va., next year.

Spetman now has a short timeline to find an opponent to replace the Mountaineers.