MOSCOW, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The United States posted a 4-1 victory over Belgium Thursday to advance to the final of Fed Cup.
Lisa Raymond won the clinching point with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Elke Clijsters, the younger sister of world No. 2 Kim Clijsters, giving the AU.S. a 3-1 lead.
Prior to this tie, Raymond had played only two singles matches in the Fed Cup, mostly participating in doubles, but with Serena and Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles sidelined because of injuries, she and Meghann Shaughnessy were pressed into service.
Shaughnessy was beaten on Thursday by Els Callens, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
In the dead doubles rubber, Martina Navratilova returned to Fed Cup action for the first time since 1995. The former long-time No. 1 paired with Raymond for a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Elke Clijsters and Caroline Maes.
Navratilova, 47, has not lost in 38 matches in Fed Cup. She has won 20 singles matches and 18 doubles for Czechoslovakia (in 1975) and the U.S.
