'Incredible' Italy cruise to victory in Fed Cup final

• Last Updated: November 08. 2009 8:54PM UAE / November 8. 2009 4:54PM GMT

Italy surged to their second Fed Cup tennis title yesterday without losing a match against the United States in the final in Reggio Calabria.

Flavia Pennetta charged past Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2 in the third singles rubber to put Italy 3-0 ahead and wrap up an easy victory. Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci completed a 4-0 shutout by beating Liezel Huber and Vania King in doubles 4-6, 6-3, 11-9.

The fourth singles match was scrapped after Italy clinched the title. Italy had never beaten the US in nine previous Fed Cup ties. “It’s incredible, the girls have rewritten the history of Italian tennis,” the Italian captain Corrado Barazzutti said.

Italy had gone 2-0 ahead in Saturday’s singles as the Americans, without Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to compete, failed to win a set. In other women’s tennis action, Aravane Rezai won the Tournament of Champions in Bali yesterday when Marion Bartoli retired with injury after losing the first set 7-5.

* Reuters