Reggio Calabria, Italy - Italy moved into the winning position after one day of play Saturday in the Fed Cup final, as Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone crushed token US opposition. Pennetta dealt a defeat to inexperienced American Alexa Glatch 6- 3, 6-1, while Schiavone shook off two hours of rain delay to beat US Open quarter-finalist Melanie Oudin 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 on the red clay.
The Americans, missing both Williams sisters, will now need a Sunday sweep to maintain any hopes of an 18th trophy in the international event.
The US entered the weekend 9-0 over Italy
Glatch, No 132, admitted she was outplayed.
"She definitely played better than last time," said Glatch, who beat No 11 Penntta 6-1, 6-1 at the French Open first round in May. "Conditions were also different and I served extremely well. I was more aggressive in that match
"My serve let me down and I didn't win a lot free points."
Oudin went to the locker room during a rain break ahead but fell behind when she and Schiavone returned.
