Italy on verge of another Fed Cup final

The wins on an outdoor clay court in Rome put the Italians on the verge of taking the best-of-five series and earning a second consecutive Fed Cup final. They won last year's title.

Pennetta led off for Italy with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Lucie Hradecka, after Hradecka jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set before Pennetta was able to take control.

The second match was dominated by Schiavone, who routed Lucie Safarova 6-0, 6-2 in just more than an hour. Schiavone lost just 15 points over seven service games and had just 10 unforced errors in the match.

Pennetta will be given the first chance to clinch the series when she goes against Safarova in Sunday's opening singles match while Schiavone will later go against Hardecka.

If Czechs win win both of those matches, the series will come down to a doubles match between Czechs Petra Kvitova and Kveta Peschke and Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.

The winner of the Czech Republic series advances to the Nov. 6-7 Fed Cup final against either Russia of the United States, who were playing their semifinal this weekend in Birmingham, Ala.

Copyright 2010 United Press International.