Venus Williams wins as U.S. ties Russia

STOWE, Vt., July 14 (UPI) -- Venus Williams defeated Nadia Petrova in three sets Saturday to help the United States draw even with Russia in their Fed Cup semifinal match at Stowe, Vt.

Williams, the 2007 Wimbledon champion, trailed, 3-4, in the third set but won the next three games and took the match, 7-6, 0-6, 6-4.

Earlier Saturday, Russia's Anna Chakvetadze defeated American Vania King, 6-1, 6-3.

Sunday's reverse singles will send six-time major titlist Williams against Chakvetadze and King vs. Petrova. The doubles calls for Americans King and Lisa Raymond to meet Russians Petrova and Elena Vesnina.

Former world No. 1 Serena Williams, of the United States, Russian Maria Sharapova and fourth-ranked Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out of this week's semifinals due to injuries.

The United States-Russia winner will meet the France-Italy winner in the World Group final in mid-September.

Francesca Schiavone beat former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo in straight sets Saturday to help Italy draw even with France. Schiavone won, 7-5, 6-3.

Earlier, France's Tatiana Golovin defeated Italy's Tathiana Garbin, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.