Italy, behind Pennetta, wins Fed Cup title

REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Flavia Pennetta defeated American Melanie Oudin in straight sets Sunday, giving Italy the Fed Cup championship.

Pennetta's 7-5, 6-2 win over Oudin put the Italians up 3-0 in the best-of-five series and locked up a second Fed Cup title for the Italians. A doubles match victory made the final score 4-0 in favor of Italy.

It was the third finals appearance in four years for the Italians, who won their first Fed Cup in 2006 but lost the finals to Russia in 2007.

The United States, which hasn't won the Fed Cup since 2000, owns a record 17 overall championships.

Pennetta fired six aces and 26 winners at Oudin. She had early breaks in each set that allowed the Italian to control the match's tempo.

Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone put Italy on the verge of the title with wins Saturday. Pennetta took out Alexa Glatch, dropping just four games in the process, and Schiavone beat Oudin, again in straight sets.

Sunday's second reverse singles between Glatch and Schiavone was called off but the Italian doubles team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci took a 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 decision from Vania King and Liezel Huber.

"These girls are incredible," Italy team captain Corrado Barazzutti said. "They've written another chapter in Italian tennis history. I think they're one of the best teams in the history of Italian sports not many other teams have won two titles in four years. The first victory was extraordinary and this second one goes beyond expectations."