Russia and France set up Fed Cup final

Anastasia Myskina ended the resistance of the United States yesterday and sent defending champions Russia into a Federation Cup final repeat against France.

The former French Open champion beat Jill Craybas 6-2 6-4 in Moscow's Olympic Stadium after Venus Williams had briefly raised US hopes that they could overturn a 2-0 deficit.

Spain never even threatened a comeback against France as Amelie Mauresmo finished them off with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Nuria Llagostera Vives in Aix-en-Provence to give them an unassailable 3-0 lead.

France, who will contest their third successive Fed Cup final, will be gunning for revenge after losing to Russia last year in Moscow.

This time the 2003 winners will have the advantage of overwhelming home support with the showpiece taking place at Roland Garros on September 17-18.

"We played them (Russia) away a few times over the past few years," said Mauresmo, who notched up her 15th successive Fed Cup victory.

"It will be great to play them before our home fans."

With the match already lost, Arantxa Parra Santonja gave Spain a consolation point by beating Fed Cup debutant Severine Beltrame 6-4 6-4.

France eventually won the tie 3-1 when the doubles between Mauresmo and Pierce and the Spanish pair of Medina Garrigues and Maria Sanchez Lorenzo was cancelled after just four games because of violent rain in Marseille.

Since the Fed Cup changed its format in 1995 there have been only four comebacks from 0-2 deficits.

Venus, who barely a week ago celebrated her third Wimbledon title, took little more than an hour to halve her team's deficit when she took Elena Dementieva apart.

The 25-year-old American had looked jaded when losing to Myskina on Saturday, but she was revitalised yesterday to overpower Dementieva 6-1 6-2 on the slow clay court.

Her efforts proved in vain, however, as Craybas fell to Myskina after being brought in as a late replacement for Mashona Washington.

Dinara Safina and Vera Douchevina then beat Williams and Corina Morariu 6-1 7-5 to make the final score 4-1.

World Group One play-offs

Switzerland vs Austria 1-4; Czech Rep. vs Italy 2-3; Belgium vs Argentina 3-2; Croatia vs Germany 1-4.

¤ China were promoted to Fed Cup World Group II yesterday after completing a 4-1 play-off victory over Slovenia in Beijing. The tie was evenly poised at 1-1 after Saturday's opening singles rubbers but world no.42 Na Li thrashed Katarina Srebotnik 6-1 6-2 to put the hosts ahead. Jie Zheng, who had lost to Srebotnik on Saturday, then beat Andreja Klepac 6-3 6-1 to clinch victory for China who came through the Asia/Oceania qualifying group. If China win their opening match in World Group II next year they will be in line for a crack at joining the eight-nation World Group I, something they have never achieved.