Fed Cup: Serena Williams leads US past Belarus

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - Serena Williams rallied to beat Anastasiya Yakimova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday, giving the United States a 3-0 lead against Belarus that locked up a spot in a Fed Cup playoff in April.

Williams' victory clinched the round for the Americans with two matches still to go. There was another singles match before Venus Williams' scheduled return in doubles.

Serena Williams led 4-1 in the first set before Yakimova stormed back to the take the lead. But Williams cruised through the last two sets to get the win.

Belarus' Victoria Azarenka, the top-ranked player in the world, sat out all four singles matches with a back injury.

The Americans were bounced out of the Fed Cup top tier last year, but will have a chance to play their way back in during the April playoff.