REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy - Italy won its second Fed Cup title on Sunday, as Flavia Pennetta and the Italian team followed up their 2-0 start on Saturday by completing a 4-0 whitewash of the United States.
On Day 1, Pennetta beat Alexa Glatch, 63 61, while Francesca Schiavone took in a slightly closer straight-setter over Melanie Oudin, 76(2) 62.
Pennetta made a strong 2-0 lead into an insurmountable 3-0 lead with a 75 62 win over Oudin in the first match of Day 2. She broke early and, although Oudin did break back for 5-all, the Italian broke right back to take the first set then cruised to victory and the second title in Italy's Fed Cup history.
"It's a very nice feeling. We worked hard to get to this point; finally we made it," said Pennetta, who was playing in front of thousands of home fans on the clay courts of the Circolo del Tennis Rocco Polimeni. "In the beginning of the week everyone expected so many things... now we are 3-0 and we can enjoy it."
"I could have played better on some points," Oudin said. "The first set was so close and I had chances, so if a couple things went my way or if I hit this shot on that point, it would've changed the momentum. But after she won the first set, just like what happened yesterday, she kind of ran away with it. Someday, when I'm in the Fed Cup final again, hopefully I'll be able to pull out the win."
Schiavone's rubber against Glatch was cancelled; the doubles rubber was still played and even the world's No.1-ranked doubles player, Liezel Huber, couldn't save the day, as Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci edged the South African-born American and partner Vania King, 46 63 119.
Italy won its first Fed Cup title in 2006, beating Belgium in a tense 3-2 final; they returned to the final in 2007, only to be blanked by a top Russian team, 4-0.
"This is unbelievable," said Corrado Barazzutti, Italy's Fed Cup captain since 2002. "These girls write the history of Italian tennis, this is a great moment. For a country like Italy... we are not America... this is a dream come true."
