Samantha Stosur has seen off Russian surprise packet Veronika Kudermetova to give Australia a terrific start to their Fed Cup tie in Hobart.

Stosur downed the 16-year-old world No.650 6-4 6-0 at the Domain Tennis Centre.

But the world No.16 didn’t have it all her own way, the youngest member of Russia’s inexperienced squad coming straight off the country’s star-studded tennis production line.

With two years still left at school, Kudermetova’s serves regularly clocked over 180km/h and a boilover looked possible in a tough first set.

Stosur’s experience came to the fore in the end as the Russian’s game fell apart, with 40 unforced errors in a match that lasted 56 minutes.

Kudermetova saved four break points before Stosur broke her for 4-3 in the first but the Russian immediately broke back for 4-4.

The teenager couldn’t hold her next service game and, on serve, Stosur then converted her third set point.

The solid Australian was untroubled in the second, though, and converted her first match point on serve when Kudermetova netted.

Earlier, Casey Dellacqua gave Australia a flying start with a 6-0 6-2 win over Irina Khromacheva.

Dellacqua had too much power for the world No.241, smacking 19 forehand winners in a match that lasted just 58 minutes.

Australia are seeking their first win over Russia since 1983.