TENNIS • Serena Williams and Christina McHale won singles matches and Venus Williams returned from a five-month layoff Sunday in Worcester, Mass., sending the United States past Belarus 5-0 in the first round of the Fed Cup. By blanking Belarus in World Group II, the Americans head to a playoff in April in hopes of playing their way back into the top tier of Fed Cup after getting bounced last year.

Venus Williams and Liezel Huber completed the shutout with a doubles victory, defeating Darya Kustova and Anastasiya Yakimova 6-1, 6-2. Williams has been diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and joint pain.

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McHale won in straight sets for the second consecutive day, beating Kustova 6-0, 6-1 to put the U.S. up 4-0. Serena Williams had already guaranteed a U.S. victory earlier in the day by defeating Yakimova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

Pitcher Penny bound for Japan

baseball • The Softbank Hawks of Japan’s Pacific League have signed former major league pitcher Brad Penny to a one-year contract. Softbank, based in Fukuoka, announced the signing of free agent Penny on its website Sunday. The 33-year-old right-hander is expected to arrive in Japan on Wednesday. Financial terms of the deal were not released. Penny went 11-11 last season for the Detroit Tigers with a 5.30 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 31 games.

Belgium’s Boonen takes lead in Qatar

CYCLING • Tom Boonen of Belgium won the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar, finishing four seconds ahead of Adam Blythe of Britain. The former world road racing champion, riding for the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team, completed the 88.5-mile first stage in 3 hours, 11 minutes, 22 seconds. BMC Racing Team’s Blythe was followed by Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale, six seconds back in third. Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Barracuda was fourth.

From wire reports