Last year's finalists Russia have suffered a surprise first-round defeat in the Fed Cup to the Netherlands who have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead.
With Russian No.1 Maria Sharapova only scheduled to play the final doubles rubber because of a shoulder injury, Russia had suffered two losses on the opening day before Kiki Bertens secured the win for the Dutch in Sunday's first rubber, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1 6-4.
Kuznetsova had come into her encounter with Bertens tired from a four-hour marathon loss to Richel Hogenkamp on Saturday, the longest rubber in Fed Cup history.
The Dutch, without a player ranked in the top 100, had been considered major underdogs against a Russian team whose lowest-ranked player Daria Kasatkina is No.61 in the world.
