CHARLEROI, Belgium -- French Open finalists Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters gave Belgium a 2-0 lead over defending Fed Cup champion Slovakia in their quarterfinal Saturday.

The winner of the best-of-five series will face the United States or Italy in the semifinals.

Henin-Hardenne, who won her country's first Grand Slam tennis title at Roland Garros last month, beat Janette Husarova 7-5, 6-4 in the opening match.

"I was a little nervous in front of the home crowd, but the important thing is that I won," the third-ranked Henin-Hardenne said. "She served really well and put up a fight."

Clijsters, ranked No. 2 behind Serena Williams, defeated 19-year-old Fed Cup rookie Lubomira Kurhajcova 6-3, 6-1.

Clijsters raced to a 4-0 lead then lost her serve after sending two easy forehands wide. But she still won handily.

"I was a bit too cautious at the beginning, not aggressive enough, and it showed," said Clijsters, twice the runner-up at the French Open. "But overall I'm satisfied with the result."

Clijsters will play Husarova, and Henin-Hardenne will take on Kurhajcova in the reverse singles Sunday. In the doubles, Husarova and Kurhajcova will team up against Els Callens and Caroline Maes.

Slovakia is without its top player, ninth-ranked Daniela Hantuchova, who plays just once a year for her country so she can concentrate on her individual career.

France 2, Spain 0
OVIEDO, Spain -- Amelie Mauresmo and Nathalie Dechy won singles matches Saturday, leading France to a 2-0 lead over Spain in the Fed Cup quarterfinals.

Mauresmo downed Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 6-3, 6-3, and Dechy defeated Magui Serna 6-3, 6-4. Mauresmo, who pulled out of Wimbledon with an injury, was playing for the first time in a month.

The reverse singles and doubles are Sunday. The winner of this quarterfinal meets Russia or Slovenia in the next round.

Spain, a five-time Fed Cup champion, reached the finals last year but lost to Slovakia.

Spain was playing for only the second time in nearly a generation without either of its Fed Cup veterans, Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. Martinez is sitting out these matches and Sanchez-Vicario retired in November.

Russia 2, Slovenia 0
PORTOROZ, Slovenia -- Anastasia Myskina and Elena Dementieva won in straight sets Saturday as Russia took a 2-0 lead against Slovenia in the Fed Cup quarterfinals.

Myskina beat Maja Matevzic 6-4, 6-1, and Dementieva topped Katarina Srebotnik 6-1, 6-3.

"I didn't expect such an easy match," Dementieva said.

On Sunday, Myskina will face Srebotnik, and Dementieva will play Matevzic in singles. Srebotnik and Tina Krizan will play doubles against Vera Zvonareva and Elena Bovina.

The winner of the best-of-five quarterfinal will face Spain or France next. France led Spain 2-0 after Saturday's action.