MOSCOW (AP) — Russia secured a berth in the Fed Cup final Sunday, taking an insurmountable 3-0 lead over two-time defending champion Italy in the best-of-five World Group semifinals after Vera Zvonareva beat Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-2.
The third-ranked Zvonareva broke Vinci in the first game before the Italian started attacking the net and leveled the set at 3-3. The 37th-ranked Vinci saved two break points in the ninth game before Zvonareva finally broke and served out the set.
The Russian broke twice more in the second set to clinch the first reverse singles match.
Italy was without its two top players. French Open champion Francesca Schiavone is concentrating on the clay-court season and Flavia Pennetta has a shoulder injury.
