Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands swept aside Russians Elena Dementieva and Alla Kudryavtseva in the decisive Fed Cup doubles to earn the United States a place in the final against Italy.

With the best-of-five tie locked at 2-2, the US duo eased to a 6-3 6-1 victory in front of cheering crowds on the indoor hard court in Birmingham, Alabama.

"This is awesome," a beaming Mattek-Sands said courtside after sealing victory with a crunching forehand winner down the line, the Russians having been broken four times in the second set.

The Americans, who have a record 17 Fed Cup titles but have not lifted the trophy since 2000, will host holders Italy in November in a re-match of last year's final.

The Italians crushed Czech Republic 5-0 in their semi-final in Rome on Sunday.

Earlier, Mattek-Sands had kept American hopes alive by battling past Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 2-6 6-3 after Dementieva had beaten Melanie Oudin to give Russia a 2-1 lead.

Ranked 129th, Mattek-Sands broke world number 62 Makarova three times in the final set of the reverse singles encounter before wrapping up victory in just over two-and-a-half hours.

Continually cheered on by loud chants of "USA, USA, USA" from the partisan crowd, Mattek-Sands threw her racket and both arms into the air in celebration after the match ended with the Russian left-hander hitting a forehand long.