Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US returns to Russia’s Elena Dementieva

New York: Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands swept aside Russians Elena Dementieva and Alla Kudryavtseva in the decisive Fed Cup doubles on Sunday 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 on the courtside after sealing the victory with a crunching forehand winner down the line, the Russians having been broken four times in the second set. “We had a blast out there.”

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 earlier 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 No. 62 Makarova thrice in the final set of the reverse singles encounter before wrapping up the 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.

“It is great playing in the US, having the home crowd,” the American said. “They really helped me pull it out in my singles. I was getting some tough calls and she was playing good.”

World No. 6 Dementieva had earlier fended off a gritty fightback by Oudin in the first reverse singles to put Russia ahead.

Neither player held serve for the first 10 games before an error-strewn first set went into a tiebreak which Dementieva clinched 7-4 after winning the last four points.

Baseliner Oudin, shouldering the burden of being America’s numero uno player after Serena and Venus Williams declared themselves unavailable, then broke the erratic Russian in the first, third and fifth games of the second set to level the match. (Agencies)