Defending champ Italy moves on in Fed Cup

Schiavone dropped the first set in the match in Ukraine but cruised in the next two, winning 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.

The win put the Italians ahead 3-1 in the best-of-five matches and moved them into the semis against the Czech Republic, which scored a quarterfinal win over the German team.

Earlier, Flavia Pennetta had given Italy a 2-1 lead with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) decision over Alona Bondarenko, Kateryna's younger sister.

Italy beat the United States in last year's Fed Cup final.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).