Harkleroad rescues U.S. after Davenport upset

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LA JOLLA, California (Reuters) - Fed Cup debutant Ashley Harkleroad spared the blushes for the United States by crushing Germany's Tatjana Malek 6-1 6-3 to level the scores at 1-1 in their world group first round tie on Saturday.

German teenager Sabine Lisicki had stunned former world number one Lindsay Davenport 6-1 7-5 in the opening singles match of the two-day tie at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

Harkleroad, 22, swept through the first set against Germany's number one and broke her opponent in the fifth and ninth games of the second to complete a one-sided victory on the hard outdoor surface.

It was Malek's first defeat in five Fed Cup singles matches and restored U.S. fortunes as the 17-times champions seek their first title in the team competition since 2000.

The 18-year-old Lisicki, ranked 130th in the world, had stunned the partisan crowd by producing one of the biggest upsets in Fed Cup history, sealing victory in 84 minutes.

Davenport's shock defeat ended a run of 19 consecutive wins by the American in Fed Cup singles matches.

"Lindsay is such a great champion and I just beat her," a beaming Lisicki said in a courtside interview. "I am really excited."

Asked how she had set up the biggest victory of her career, the German replied: "Just playing my game. Hitting my balls and mixing it up."