The Miele Canadian Fed Cup team took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II playoff tie on Saturday. Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, Quebec) and Valerie Tetreault (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec) defeated Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea and Jorgelina Cravero respectively in front of a packed home crowd at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal.

Wozniak gave Canada a 1-0 lead thanks to an impressive 6-4, 6-2 win over Ormaechea. Wozniak was dominant from the baseline off both wings and kept her opponent chasing throughout the match to earn her 33^rd victory in Fed Cup play, a Canadian record. The country’s top singles player was particularly in top form on the big points to stop a valiant effort from her young Argentinean opponent.

“I am so happy to be back home and playing in front of our fans,” Wozniak commented after the match. “They gave me so much energy and I had a lot of fun on the court. I can’t wait to play again tomorrow.”

Tetreault, playing in her first ever Fed Cup match, shook off a case of early nerves to secure a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Cravero, pushing Argentina to the brink of elimination. Tetreault’s powerful groundstrokes are a distinct advantage to her on the fast, hard court surface at this tie.

“It took me a few games to get into the match, but I was able to find my rhythm and I felt like I was controlling most of the points,” said Tetreault. “I had a lot of fun on the court. It was like something I have never experienced before in my life. I felt like everyone was behind me and supporting me so it helped me get over the nerves I was feeling playing in my first Fed Cup match.”

Canada’s needs just one victory in the final three matches to secure the win. Sunday’s lineup will see Wozniak play Cravero followed by Tetreault against Ormaechea. The doubles rubber will be played last with Canada’s Sharon Fichman (Toronto) and Marie-Eve Pelletier (Repentigny, Quebec) against Victoria Bosia and Aranza Salut of Argentina.

“I am very pleased with how the girls played today,” said Canada’s captain Sylvain Bruneau. “But they (Argentina) will have nothing to lose tomorrow so tonight we will make some adjustments to be sure we are ready.” 

A win for Canada against Argentina would advance them to the World Group II in 2011 for the first time since 2007. Only eight countries entered in Fed Cup competition will qualify for the elite World Group with the next eight qualifying for World Group II.

Action will continue on Sunday, April 25 at 12:00 p.m. The tie is being webcast live from Montreal on tenniscanada.com in both French and English.

Live Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Web cast schedule on tenniscanada.com

(Local and Eastern time)

Saturday, April 24, 2010                        1:00 p.m.                    Singles
Sunday, April 25, 2010              Noon                           Reverse Singles, followed by doubles