MADRID, Spain — Belgium made a strong start in its bid for its first Fed Cup title, with Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters winning in straight sets Wednesday against Germany.
Henin defeated Martina Muller 6-3, 6-1 and Clijsters downed Bianka Lamade by the same score on the indoor clay courts.
The two victories guarantee Belgium of winning its first series in the round-robin tournament. Belgium plays Australia on Friday and Spain on Saturday.
The Fed Cup is divided into two four-team groups in which the two leaders play in Sunday's final. Belgium, Germany, Spain and Australia are in one group, with France, Russia, Argentina and the Czech Republic in the other.
Germany replaced the two-time defending champion Americans, who withdrew because of security concerns after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Later Wednesday, Russia faced the Czech Republic and Spain played Australia.
Henin, the WTA's No. 7 player and the losing finalist this year at Wimbledon, had no trouble with Muller — ranked 100 places below her. She won the first set in 46 minutes and swept through the second in 27.
Clijsters, ranked No. 5, surged through her first set in 29 minutes and took the second in 22.
Belgium's Els Callens and Laurence Courtois played Lamade and Barbara Rittner in doubles.
"It's nice to win in two easy sets," Henin said. "It's good for confidence and physically it's good. It's a lot different to play on clay. At the beginning it was difficult, but that's normal after six months on hard courts."
Belgium is the only country in the eight-team event with two players in the top 10. France is the only other team with a top 10 player in No. 9 Amelie Mauresmo.
Henin this season reached the Wimbledon final before losing to Venus Williams.