Australia launched its campaign to regain a Fed Cup World Group spot by outplaying New Zealand 3-0 in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group I.

Evie Dominikovic drubbed Leanne Baker 6-2 6-3 and Samantha Stosur defeated Marina Erakovic 6-4 6-4 to give Australia a winning lead in its maiden Pool B round-robin league match-ups.

Australia's doubles pair of Dominikovic and Bryanne Stewart had tougher competition from Baker and Paula Marama, who clinched the first set tiebreaker before the Aussies prevailed 6-7 (7-9) 6-1 6-4.

Australia, which last year slipped down from the World Cup for the first time, is without its top player, Alicia Molik, as well as team stalwart Nicole Pratt, who was a controversial late withdrawal after a row with Tennis Australia.

Chasing the lone World Group playoff spot from this tournament, Australia faces a difficult challenge from China, which blanked Kazakhstan 3-0 in a Pool A league encounter.

China's Zheng Jie started with a 6-2 6-2 victory against Tatayana Ignatchenko, and top-ranked Li Na breezed past Mariya Kovaleva 6-0 6-1.

Li Ting and Sung Tian-tian posted a 6-1 6-2 win over Mariya Kovalena and Ekaterina Morozova in the doubles.

On a day of lopsided encounters, host India and South Korea also posted 3-0 victories in their opening matches.

India defeated Singapore in Pool A, while the South Koreans outplayed Taiwan in Pool B.

Besides one team advancing to the World Group playoffs, the two bottom-placed sides in Group I will be relegated to Group II. The relegated teams will be replaced by the top two teams from the four-nation Group II round-robin league.

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