Champion Italy clinches berth in Fed Cup final when Pennetta beats Czech Republic’s Kvitova

Italy advances to another Fed Cup final

ROME — Flavia Pennetta beat Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (3), 6-2 Sunday to qualify defending champion Italy for its fourth Fed Cup final in five years.

The victory gave the Italians an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series, and they went on to win two more matches for a 5-0 shutout.

The 60th-ranked Kvitova was a late substitute for the top Czech player, Lucie Safarova, who managed to win only two games against Francesca Schiavone on Saturday.

The 15th-ranked Pennetta opened the series with a win over Lucie Hradecka.

Russia is playing the United States in the other semifinal.

Italy won the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009.

Kvitova double-faulted to hand Pennetta the first-set tiebreaker, and Pennetta closed out the match with an ace on her first match point before an enthusiastic crowd at the Foro Italico.

Sara Errani then beat Hradecka 6-4, 6-2 and Errani and Schiavone teamed in doubles to defeat Hradecka and Kveta Peschke 6-2, 6-4.