MOSCOW – Vera Zvonareva powered Russia into their first Fed Cup final in three years when she beat Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-2 in the first reverse singles on Sunday to give the home team a 3-0 lead against defending champions Italy.
The world number three broke Vinci in the ninth game for a 5-4 lead before serving out the first set, then secured two more breaks in the second to seal a comfortable victory after 74 minutes.
On Saturday, Zvonareva brushed aside Sara Errani 6-0 6-2 before Svetlana Kuznetsova prevailed over Vinci 6-2 6-7 6-1 to put the Russians in command in their semi-final at Moscow’s Khodynka arena.
Russia, who won the women’s team competition four times between 2004 and 2008, will host the winner of the other semi-final between Belgium and the Czech Republic, in the November final.
