ROME (AP) — Flavia Pennetta beat Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (3), 6-2 Sunday to qualify defending champion Italy for its fourth Fed Cup final in five years.
The victory gave the Italians an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series, and they went on to win two more matches for a 5-0 shutout.
The 60th-ranked Kvitova was a late substitute for the top Czech player, Lucie Safarova, who managed to win only two games against Francesca Schiavone on Saturday.
The 15th-ranked Pennetta opened the series with a win over Lucie Hradecka.
Russia is playing the United States in the other semifinal.
Italy won the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009.
Kvitova double-faulted to hand Pennetta the first-set tiebreaker, and Pennetta closed out the match with an ace on her first match point before an enthusiastic crowd at the Foro Italico.
Sara Errani then beat Hradecka 6-4, 6-2 and Errani and Schiavone teamed in doubles to defeat Hradecka and Kveta Peschke 6-2, 6-4.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.