Defending champions Italy seized a commanding 2-0 lead over the United States in the final of the Fed Cup with a pair of straight-set wins by Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone in California, on Saturday.

Reigning French Open champion Schiavone got Italy off on the right foot with a dominating 6-2, 6-4 victory over young American Coco Vandeweghe in the opener while world no.23 Pennetta defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-6, 6-2 in two hours.

Italy can clinch their second title in as many years in the best-of-five format with a win in the opening match of Day Two.

World no.7 Schiavone needed one hour, 23 minutes to close out the match over the 18-year-old Vandeweghe at the San Diego Sports Arena.

“It was a good match for me. I started really well, particularly the first set,” she said.

“Then I went a little bit down 4-3. But the way that I was playing was good. I was aggressive, good defence, a good serve.”

Vandeweghe, who is ranked 114th in the world, is making her Fed Cup debut in her hometown. She got on the US team after the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, pulled out with injuries.

Vandeweghe tied the second set at 4-4 by breaking Schiavone’s serve. But the rally was short-lived as the Italian struck back quickly.

Schiavone broke Vandeweghe’s serve, then won the match when Vandeweghe punched a backhand service return into the net.

“She’s young, and I think she play a good match for the first time in Fed Cup,” Schiavone said.

In a surprise move, US captain Mary Joe Fernandez chose Vandeweghe for the opening match over the more experienced Melanie Oudin.

With the Williams sisters skipping the event, the US was forced to send an inexperienced four-woman team to the World Group final which runs on the indoor hardcourts. The Williams sisters also missed last year’s event.

The Americans, who have won more Fed Cup titles than anyone else with 17, lead the series with Italy 9-1 overall but lost the last meeting in the 2009 final.