Russians hammer Chinese to book Italian semi

Defending champions Russia wrapped up a 5-0 thrashing of China on Sunday to book a Fed Cup semi-final against Italy in a repeat of the 2007 final after the Italians dispatched France in Orleans.

The Russians have dominated the tournament in recent years and on current form look set for their fifth title in the past six years after Anna Chakvetadze motored past Yan Zi 6-1, 6-2 for the decisive third point before debutant teen Alisa Kleibanova crushed Tian-Tian Sun 6-1, 6-1.

Star pair Elena Dementieva, the Beijing Olympic champion, and Svetlana Kuznetsova completed the whitewash with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 doubles success over Yan Zi and Tian-Tian Sun.

The Chinese effort was hampered by the absence of their number one player Zheng Jie due to a wrist injury she suffered in the Australian Open.

In her absence, qualification against Shamil Tarpishchev's host nation which boasted five players in the world's top ten proved mission impossible.

Chinese skipper Zhang Qi strove to lift a depleted squad missing the injured Zheng as well as Li Na, but was unable to prevent Russia repeating their 5-0 romp in the countries' only previous meeting in 2002.

Italy, meanwhile, reached their third semi-final in four years after Flavia Pennetta obliterated Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2.

France, champions in 2003, slumped to their third opening round loss since 2005 after Pennetta saw off former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo on Saturday in a bad-tempered three-setter.

Pennetta won 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 - but only after hurling insults at the umpire over a line call that went against her.

The Italians, who completed a 5-0 win over France, will host Russia at the end of on April.

The Czech Republic also moved into the semis for the first time in 12 years after beating fellow five-time champions Spain 4-1.

Petra Kvitova saw off Nuria Llagostera 6-4, 7-5 and Lucie Safarova moved past Carla Suarez 6-4, 6-3 after the teams had ended all square.

The Czechs can now look forward either to a home encounter with the United States or Argentina, who were locked at 1-1 after an opening day which saw Jill Craybas beat Betina Jozami 6-2, 6-1 only for Gisela Dulko to bring the Argentines level with a 6-2, 7-5 defeat of Melanie Oudin.

Former world number one Jelena Jankovic gave Serbia an unassailable lead over Japan to send her country into the World Group play-offs for the first time following a 6-3, 6-2 win over veteran Ai Sugiyama before Ana Ivanovic beat Ayumi Morita 6-1, 6-2.