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 Sun Tian-Tian 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 and Sun.
PHOTO: EPA
Chinese skipper Zhang Qi strove to lift a depleted squad — missing the injured Zheng Jie 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.
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 the first day all square.
The Czechs can now look forward to a home encounter with the US, who defeated Argentina 3-2.
The US, playing without the superstar Williams sisters, also got a key contribution from a teenager, as 17-year-old Melanie Oudin shrugged off a 30-minute rain delay and rallied from a set down to defeat Argentina’s Betina Jozami 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 and force a deciding doubles match in Surprise, Arizona.
Julie Ditty and Liezel Huber then cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Gisela Dulko and Jozami.
Earlier on Sunday, Dulko defeated US veteran Jill Craybas, 6-1, 6-3, to give the Argentinians a 2-1 advantage.
The match was the second, which was claimed by Dulko, who defeated Oudin on Saturday — when Craybas defeated Jozami.
Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic gave Serbia an unassailable lead over Japan to send Serbia 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.
Japan won the dead rubber doubles to make the final result 4-1 for Serbia, which had taken control on Saturday, when French Open champion and world No. 8 Ivanovic showed glimpses of her form last year to defeat Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4, before Jankovic destroyed 18-year-old Morita 6-1, 6-0.
Slovakia, Germany and Ukraine also won their World Group II ties.
■MOVISTAR OPEN
AP, VINA DEL MAR, CHILE
Top-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile defeated Argentina’s Jose Acasuso 6-1, 6-3 on Sunday to claim his fourth Movistar Open title.
After a smooth first set for Gonzalez, fourth-seeded Acasuso upped the tempo in the second.
With the scores level at 3-3, defending champion Gonzalez broke Acasuso’s serve and then took advantage of a double fault by the Argentine to move ahead 5-3. Gonzalez then held his serve to win the match.
■SA TENNIS OPEN
AFP, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his third ATP title on Sunday with a 6-4, 7-6 triumph over fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in a thrilling SA Tennis Open final.
The 23-year-old Le Mans-born Tsonga won in Bangkok and Paris last year and succeeded in the revived South African tournament without dropping a single set in five matches.
■ZAGREB INDOORS
AFP, ZAGREB
Croatia’s Marin Cilic won the ATP Zagreb tournament with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of his countryman Mario Ancic on Sunday.
Second-seeded Cilic, who did not lose a set the entire week, dominated as Ancic simply did not have an answer to his forehand.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely