Russia are through to the semi-finals of the Fed Cup after easing to an unbeatable 3-0 lead in their first round tie against China.
Italy up next in last four
Defending champions Russia are through to the semi-finals of the Fed Cup after easing to an unbeatable 3-0 lead in their first round tie against China.
Anna Chakvetadze thrashed Yan Zi 6-1 6-2 on Sunday to wrap up the win, dominating a scrappy, error-strewn contest from the outset. The match contained 56 unforced errors, which accounted for more than half the number of points played.
The 21-year-old Chakvetadze broke Yan's first two service games, and six times in total, on her way to winning in just 67 minutes.
Yan did break Chakvetadze's serve in the fifth game of the second set but that was just a temporary setback for the world number 19.
With the win secured, Alisa Kleybanova beat Tian Tian Sun 6-1 6-1 to give
Russia a 4-0 lead. Russia are bidding to win the trophy for the fifth time in the last six years.
Italy through
Russia will face Italy in the semi-finals in April after the visitors beat France in a bad tempered tied in Orleans.
Italy opened an unassailable 3-0 lead after Flavia Pennetta cruised to a 6-2 6-2 win over Alize Cornet on Sunday.
The defeat means for the second straight year the French team have gone out in the World Group first round. They now face a relegation play-off match.
The Czech Republic are also through to the last four of the competition after securing an unbeatable 3-1 lead over favourites Spain.
Petra Kvitova secured the Czechs went through to the semi-finals for the first time in over a decade with 6-4 7-5 victory over Nuria Llagostera Vives.
Lucie Safarova, a late replacement for Iveta Benesova, had already secured a point earlier in the day when she battled past Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4 6-3.
