Champions Russia secured a place in the Federation Cup semi-finals after easing to a 5-0 victory over China yesterday.
Anna Chakvetadze thrashed Yan Zi 6-1 6-2 before Alisa Kleybanova produced an even more emphatic 6-1 6-1 win over Sun Tian-tian in their first round tie.
In doubles, Elena Dementieva/Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Tian-tian/Zi 1-6 6-4 6-4 for a Russian whitewash.
Chakvetadze made sure Russia, who are looking to win their fifth title in six years, booked a place in the last four by dominating a scrappy, error strewn match against Yan from the outset.
"I'm happy with the way I played and I did have a tough time with my serve and I know I have to work on it, and hopefully I'll get my confidence back and start to play better tennis," Chakvetadze, who produced 10 double faults, said.
The 21-year-old Chakvetadze broke the Chinese woman's first two service games, and six times in total, in the 67-minute encounter.
Both players struggled to hit clean winners and instead produced a string of errors. The match featured 56 unforced errors, more than half the number of points played.
Yan did break Chakvetadze's serve in the fifth game of the second set but by then it was too late and the world number 19 overcame the hiccup to give Russia the winning point in the tie.
Italy thrashed France 5-0 yesterday to set up a semi-final clash with champions Russia in April.
Flavia Pennetta earned the decisive point when she demolished a tearful Alize Cornet 6-2 6-2, enabling the visitors to complete a hat-trick of victories against France following wins in 2006 and 2007.
"We haven't scored a point. But we came close. It's a harsh defeat," said France captain Nicolas Escude.
Pennetta, who on Saturday received a verbal warning and was fined $2,000 for making an obscene gesture towards the umpire during her match against Amelie Mauresmo, won nine points in succession to open a 5-2 lead and wrapped up the opening set by breaking Cornet's serve.
The Italian's forehand was devastating and Pennetta broke in the second game of the second set.
Although Cornet managed to break back, Pennetta stole her serve again in the sixth and the Frenchwoman burst into tears after the seventh game.
At 40-40 in that game, she contested a Pennetta shot while the point was being played and was subsequently handed a penalty point by the umpire.
The Italian went on to hold serve and bagged the win on Cornet's serve on her first match point as the Frenchwoman sent a backhand wide after 78 minutes.
Mauresmo was also unable to stop the losing streak and was beaten 6-3 6-4 by unheralded Sara Errani.
Czechs stun Spain
The Czech Republic booked a place in the Fed Cup semi-finals for the first time in over a decade after securing an unbeatable 3-1 lead over favourites Spain.
Petra Kvitova secured the Czechs' win with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Nuria Llagostera Vives in the fourth rubber.
In the earlier match Lucie Safarova, a late replacement for compatriot Iveta Benesova, battled back in the second set to defeat world number 30 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4 6-3.
Suarez Navarro was unable to reproduce the form that carried her to the quarter-finals of last month's Australian Open and lost both of her matches in Brno.
Five-times champions and 2008 finalists Spain were expected to roll over the Czechs since they hold a 2-0 record over the hosts.
The Czechs reached the Fed Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1997 and will face either the United States or Argentina in April.