Fed Cuppage

Italy will play Russia in the semi finals after Flavia Pennetta cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over France's Alize Cornet. Amelie Mauresmo is 4-1 down to Sara Errani in the first set of their dead rubber.


The Czech Republic will play either Argentina or the USA for their place in the final after they shocked last year's runners up Spain. Lucie Safarova put the team 2-1 ahead when she beat the erratic Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 6-3, and Petra Kvitova sealed the deal with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Nuria Llagostera Vives.


Russia and China are at one set all in the doubles dead rubber. Earlier, Alisa Kleybanova crushed Tiantian Sun 6-1, 6-1.

Jelena Jankovic gave the Belgrade fans something to cheer about as she gave Serbia an unassailable 3-0 lead by beating Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-2.

Dominika Cibulkova powered to a 6-0, 6-3 victory against Belgian Yanina Wickmayer to guarantee Slovakia's place in the World Group I play-offs.

Anna Lena Groenefeld eased to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Timea Bacsinszky to push the Switzerland-Germany tie into a live doubles match in Zurich (exciting!). Earlier, Patty Schnyder put the home side into a 2-1 lead by beating Sabine Lisicki.

Israel have taken a 2-1 lead over the Ukraine thanks to a Shahar Peer victory.