socialmedian: Italy claim second Fed Cup after victory over America

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Italy claim second Fed Cup after victory over America

Source: guardian.co.uk Sport

Nov 08, 2009

Summary

Italy take 3-0 lead with two rubbers remaining to claim title

Italy secured its second Fed Cup title in four years Sunday after Flavia Pennetta comfortably beat US Open quarter-finalist Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2.

The experienced Italians took an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the young United States team in the best-of-five series on an outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club. Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone also scored straight-set singles victories Saturday.

The US were without both Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending tour championships final last weekend. America has won a record 17 Fed Cups but is on a dry streak stretching back to 2000. Italy won its first Fed Cup title in 2006 over Belgium and Justine Henin and lost the 2007 final to Russia.

The Italians celebrated this time by launching captain Corrado Barazzutti up and down into the air, then ran around the court dousing each other with water bottles.

"These girls are incredible," Barazzutti said. "They've written another chapter in Italian tennis history.

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