Bethanie Mattek-Sands then lost 6-4 6-3 to Olympic champion Elena Dementieva in the second rubber on the indoor hardcourt surface.

CNN: Champions Italy secure Fed final place

However, the opening day ended level after French Open winner Anastasia Myskina won the second rubber 6-3 6-0 against Natalia Gussoni.

BBC: Chanda Rubin in action

In the second rubber, Cilic - who beat Andy Murray in the US Open - went down 6-3 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-3 to world number 18 Berdych.

BBC: Spain and Czechs through to final

Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeated Alize Cornet 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 for her first singles win in the women's teams tournament, while Melanie Oudin beat debutant Pauline Parmentier 6-4 6-4 in the second rubber.

CNN: Injured Serena to miss Paris tournament

Argentina looked on course for a commanding lead when Del Potro took the opening set of the second rubber, but Lopez produced one of the performances of his career to recover.

BBC: Lopez draws Spain level in final

In the second singles rubber, Berdych beat Cilic in four sets.

BBC: Spain and Czechs through to final

The Serbians' hopes of going through to the last four may rest on Viktor Troicki, who was beaten in five sets by American No. 1 Sam Querrey in the second singles rubber after being asked to replace the injured world No. 10 Janko Tipsarevic.

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Despite dropping the first set, Schiavone raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set on her way to levelling the rubber.

BBC: Flavia Pennetta

We know full well that if he gets a chance, Governor Romney will rubber-stamp the top-down agenda of this Republican Congress the second he takes office, and we cannot afford that future.

WHITEHOUSE: Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event -- Miami, FL