Italy win Fed Cup in 3-0 sweep of US

REGGIO CALABRIA - Flavia Pennetta sealed a second Fed Cup title for Italy 3-0 Sunday as she claimed the winning point of the weekend 7-5, 6-2 over American Melanie Oudin in the final.

Pennetta, first Italian woman to crack the world top 10, wrapped up the second championship for the host in three years after a title in Belgium in 2006.

Italy was playing in a third final in the worldwide women’s competition, the nation’s first at home.

Oudin, a US Open quarter-finalist, was overwhelmed on the day in less than 90 minutes, with the Pennetta breaking on three of four occasions and striking 12 winners. Oudin committed 15 unforced errors.

The overjoyed Italians immediately began celebrating, Francesca Schiavone drenching anyone in distance with water.

The US was without both Williams sisters, with Serena withdrawing just hours after winning the Sony Ericsson Championships last week in Doha.

The Americans had won all nine of previous meetings with Italy.