Italy complete 5-0 victory in Fed Cup

Italy powered their way into the final for the fourth time in five years, after in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta brushed aside the challenge of Czech player Petra Kvitova. Pennetta, ranked 15th in the world, made a strong start and took a two-nil lead in the opening set.

Italy's Francesca Schiavone (L) Roberta Vinci (2nd L), Sara Errani  and Flavia Pennetta (R) celebrate after winning their Fed Cup  World Group semi-final tennis match against Czech Republic in Rome,  April 25, 2010.REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito

The 60th-ranked Kvitova staged an impressive comeback to get back in touch with her opponent and force a tie break for the opening set.

However the class of the Italian eventually shone through in a closely matched tie break, with Italy able to clinch the set, 7-6 in entertaining style.

The Czech challenge faded considerably in the second with Pennetta winning four games to Kvitova's one - and set the Italians on their way to securing the match. The Czech player won only one more game as Pennetta took the set and the match, 7-6, 6-2. The victory gave Italy an insurmountable three-nil lead in the best-of-five series. They will play the winner of the match between the United States and Russia.