Intro:

Italy completed a stirring 3-2 win over the United States on Sunday (19th April) in their Fed Cup World Group playoff in Brindisi.

Russia booked a place in the Fed Cup decider thanks to a decisive doubles victory in the semi-final with over Germany on Sunday (19th April).

Script:

Following the Czech Republic's simple 3-0 win over France in the Fed Cup, the crowd at the Circolo Tennis Brindisi were in for a treat as Italy continued their match against the USA.

One rubber-all at the end of day one, Sara Errani was first up against world number one, Serena Williams.

And the American was in trouble early on as she lost the opening set 6-4 and struggled with strong winds on the court.

Nevertheless, Serena battled both that and some poor shots to come back and secure a win over Errani 4-6, 7-6. 6-3, improving to 16-0 in her Fed Cup career.

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With the US back in front, it was up to Flavia Pennetta to push the game to a decisive fifth encounter, playing in front of her home crowd.

And that support galvanised the Italian as she defeated Christina McHale in style, 6-1, 6-1, in a powerful display of tennis.

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That meant the doubles match, Williams and Alison Riske against Errani and Pennetta would prove the decisive rubber.

Williams was originally not scheduled to play, but with the match on the line, Mary Joe Fernandez elected to play the world number one.

It proved to be in vain however, as Errani and Pennetta thrashed the US pairing in the first set 6-0.

Roared on by the home crowd, the Italian duo secured the second set 6-3 and in doing so inflicted a first career loss to Williams in the Fed Cup.

The win means Italy return to the World Group, while the US are relegated to the World Group II.

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Russia will join Italy in the top group after they secured an equally dramatic 3-2 win over Germany.

Once again the doubles rubber proved to be the decider as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina defeated the German pairing of Sabine Lisicki and Andrea Petkovic.