Russia, Italy, Czech, US reach Fed Cup semifinal

LONDON – Defending champion Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic advanced to the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday, all completing their wins in reverse singles.

The United States had a tougher time, relying on a doubles win to break the deadlock with Argentina to advance, 3-2.

Russia, which has won four of the last five Fed Cup titles, routed China, 5-0, with Anna Chakvetadze and Alisa Kleybanova both winning before the doubles team of Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova finished it off on indoor hard courts in Moscow.

Italy eliminated France, 5-0, taking an unbeatable lead when Flavia Pennetta defeated a crying Alize Cornet, and the Czechs knocked out 2008 runner-up Spain, 4-1.

Melanie Oudin, 17, kept the US alive by rallying to beat Betina Jozami, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, and level the competition at 2-2. Then Liezel Huber, born in South Africa but a US citizen since July 2007, teamed with Julie Ditty to beat Jozami and Gisela Dulko, 6-2, 6-3, to give the US the victory.

The US has won 17 Fed Cup titles but none since 2000. Serena and Venus Williams were invited to play this weekend but declined, citing scheduling difficulties.

Chakvetadze played the first reverse singles match in place of Dementieva and improved her Fed Cup record to 7-2 by beating Yan Zi of China, 6-1, 6-2.

“I was a bit nervous because it was very important for me today to win, to support my teammates’ success on Saturday,” Chakvetadze said. “And I also had problems with my serve.”        (AP)