MOSCOW — Kiki Bertens beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-4 in the opening rubber to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead over last year's finalist Russia in the Fed Cup first round Saturday.
Despite being 75 ranking places behind the 31st-ranked Makarova, Bertens won with an all-action style, recording 16 winners to just four for the Russian.
Russia can pull level if Svetlana Kuznetsova beats 141st-ranked Richel Hoogenkamp later Saturday.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Kuznetsova plays Bertens before Makarova faces Hogenkamp.
Russia's top-ranked player Maria Sharapova, who has a shoulder injury, is only scheduled to play doubles on Sunday, partnering youngster Darya Kasatkina against the Dutch duo of Cindy Burger and Arantxa Rus.