MADRID, Spain -- Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters were in eye-catching form on the opening day of the Fed Cup world finals in Madrid on Wednesday, scoring straight-sets victories to set Belgium on their way to a 3-0 win over Germany.

	Justine Henin was triumphant on Wednesday.

Spain and Russia also made victorious debuts in the eight-nation competition but they faced far more difficulties than favorites Belgium, who were never troubled by a German side brought in as a late replacement for the United States.

Henin, beaten finalist at Wimbledon this year, proved far too strong for Martina Mueller as she overcame a sluggish start on the slow indoor clay surface to win 6-3, 6-1.

French Open runner-up Clijsters scored an equally impressive victory over Bianka Lamade by the same scoreline, immediately finding her range with a series of stinging groundstrokes.

Belgium completed a whitewash in the group B match against the Germans as Els Callens and Laurence Courtois won a tight doubles contest 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 against Lamade and Barbara Rittner.

Hosts Spain had more trouble in their group B game against Australia.

Conchita Martinez was a long way below her best as she came from behind to snatch a 2-6, 6-0, 7-5 victory over Alicia Molik.

The Australian missed a great chance to go 6-5 ahead with a break in the final set, putting a simple volley into the net.

Martinez capitalized by breaking in the next to complete victory in one hour 52 minutes.

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario had to overcome a sluggish start as well, losing the first set to Nicole Pratt before claiming a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win.

Gala Leon Garcia and Virginia Ruano Pascual then beat Rachel McQuillan and Evie Dominikovic 7-5 6-4 in front of just a handful of spectators in the doubles.

Russia lost the first rubber to the Czech Republic but hauled themselves out of trouble to take an early lead in group A.

Kveta Hrdlickova came from a set down to beat Elena Bovina 3-6, 6-1, 8-6 and give the Czechs first blood.

World No. 15 Elena Dementieva kept Russian hopes alive as she beat Denisa Chladkova 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

And the doubles pair of Nadia Petrova and Elena Likhovtseva proved too good for a tired Hrdlickova and Alena Vaskova as they won 6-3, 6-2.

The other two countries in group A, France and Argentina, are not in action until Thursday.

Belgium are strong favorites to claim their first Fed Cup title this week and the performances of their top two on Wednesday certainly suggested they can do it.

After an early hiccup which saw her drop her opening service game Henin dominated against Mueller in front of a sparse crowd on center court.

The world No. 7 made the decisive break in the first set in game seven and then consolidated for a 5-3 lead.

Mueller overhit a backhand at 15-40 in the next to give her opponent the set.

Henin raced through the second set in 27 minutes to give Belgium the perfect start.

"I was far from my best at the start," she said. "It was difficult to adjust but that's normal after six months spent playing on hardcourts. It takes time.

"She started very strongly but from 3-3 in the first set I was more aggressive. I was able to play my tennis and it was okay."

Clijsters made no such false start as she wrapped up victory against Lamade in 51 minutes.

"I produced a good level straight away," said Clijsters, who is ranked number five in the world.

"It's good to win like that before you play the strongest teams."

The finals are being played using a round-robin format, with the nation finishing top of each group going through to contest the final and determine the champion nation for 2001.

Belgium have a day off on Thursday before playing Australia on Friday and Spain on Saturday.