Golovin gives France advantage over Italy

CASTELLANETA MARINA, Italy, July 14 (Reuters) Tatiana Golovin overcame Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-3 2-6 6-2 to give France a 1-0 lead in their Fed Cup semi-final today.

Golovin took a scrappy first set after a Garbin double fault and a loose forehand gave her the crucial breaks but the Italian number one soon hit back on the clay for the defending champions.

Golovin lost concentration in the fifth game of the second set and Garbin, roared on by a small but partisan home crowd on Italy's south coast, broke her to love before winning the next three games to level the match.

The third set went against serve for the first four games but world number 19 Golovin then showed her greater power from the baseline to force two more breaks and close out the match.

Amelie Mauresmo meets Francesca Schiavone in the second singles rubber later while the reverse singles and doubles take place on Sunday.

Russia face the United States in the other semi-final.

Reuters AGL VV2302