U.S. Tennis Team Advances To World Group Playoffs

Venus Williams clinched a victory over Poland for the U.S. Fed Cup team on Sunday in the Group II first round. Her team advances 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.S. undefeated in the tie.

After the U.S. went up 4-0, the fourth singles match was not played.

U.S. team captain Mary Joe Fernandez said the weekend's result was significant.

"The goal was to get a win any which way we could," she said. "I think it's great we were able to win all matches. We mentioned this at the beginning of the week: Team competition is different. The pressures are different. The expectations are different.

"It was a big matchup because now we're one step closer to getting back into the World Group next year. This was very important," she said. "Now we go on in April to play our next one, try to get three wins again to compete for the Fed Cup title next year."