KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Venus Williams clinched victory for the U.S. Fed Cup team against Poland on Sunday in the Group II first round, advancing her team to the World Group Playoff in April.
A win in April would put the U.S. in contention for the Fed Cup title next year. The draw for the playoffs is Tuesday.
Williams needed just one hour to snatch a 6-1, 6-2 win against Poland's No. 2 player Magda Linette and record the 19th victory of her Fed Cup career.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and CoCo Vandeweghe teamed up and shot down Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Paula Kania, 6-1, 7-5, to keep the U.