MOSCOW (AFP) - World number four Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Ahsha Rolle in straight sets to give Russia a comfortable 2-0 lead in the Fed Cup semi-final against the United States here on Saturday.

Kuznetsova, 22, experienced few problems during her first ever head-to-head meeting with her unheralded 23-year-old opponent, easing to a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

"I'm pleased with the result and my playing today," Kuznetsova said. "Of course it would be much more interesting to play against America's main stars but I'm happy to win against any opponents to reach the Fed Cup final."

Earlier Anna Chakvetadze gave the hosts the first point of the tie when she beat Vania King 6-4, 7-5 on the red clay court of Moscow's Luzhniki small indoor arena.

Kuznetsova got an immediate break in the first set, increasing her lead with another break in the fifth game to take the opening set in 26 minutes. Three more breaks in the second saw her tie up the match in 58 minutes.

Seventh-ranked Chakvetadze secured her second win over 19-year-old King in as many meetings.

"I lost concentration late in the second set and it could cost me a lot," Chakvetadze said. "King played well today. Though she did not create anything special she played very consistently throughout the match."

The 21-year-old Russian started confidently and broke King's serve in the fifth game for a 4-2 lead, which she had no trouble keeping to take the opening set in 33 minutes.

In the second Chakvetadze broke again in the fifth game but King, who is 115th in the WTA rankings, fought tooth and nail and broke back in the eighth to level at four games all.

Chakvetadze broke again for 5-4 but King picked up steam and levelled again.

However, Chakvetadze made the decisive break in the 11th game minutes before she sealed victory on the first match point.

"Obviously I'm really disappointed that I've lost today," King said.

"When it goes to a tough situation it can go either way. And I think that happened today."

Reversed singles and the doubles clash will decide the winner on Sunday.

The winners will meet either China or Spain in the final - Spain lead that semi 2-0 after the first day's play.