Daniela Hantuchova brought Slovakia level at the end of day one of the Fed Cup final with a comprehensive win over Spain's Magui Serna.

Spanish number one Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario made a late withdrawal with a thigh injury, and stand-in Serna proved no match for Hantuchova.

The Slovakian raced to a 6-2 6-1 win in front of a vociferous Spanish crowd in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, to level the tie at 1-1.

"I felt very confident about my play today," said Hantuchova.

Conchita Martinez had earlier put Spain ahead with a straight-sets victory over Janette Husarova of Slovakia.

The Spanish veteran came through 6-4 7-6 in one hour and 51 minutes but was under severe pressure from Husarova's array of drop shots.

"I chased down as many as I could," said Martinez, who admitted that she was impressed with her opponent's shot selection at times.

"You never know what she is going to do."

Spanish team captain Miguel Margets will decide on Sunday morning whether Sanchez-Vicario can play the reverse singles.