France's Kristina Mladenovic (66) was logically beaten 6-3, 6-1 by world No.2 Simona Halep on Saturday in the first match of the Fed Cup semifinal against Romania in Rouen the Blue under pressure.
The French, too irregular, did not have enough weapons against the regularity and effectiveness of the Romanian. Caroline Garcia (21st in the world) will face Mihaela Buzarnescu (30th in the world) in an effort to bring France back on a par.