Belgium down Russia to move in last four

Likhovtseva gave Russia a 1-0 lead, beating Courtois 6-4, 6-4. But Clijsters fought back to even the tie and set up the deciding doubles match.

With top Belgians Dominique Van Roost and Sabine Appelmans not playing in World Group C round-robin, Belgium was the underdog against France, Russia and Australia.

Belgium finished 3-0 in the four-team group C in Moscow. France was 2-1, Russia 1-2 and Australia 0-3. At 0-3, Australia was relegated to qualifying round play.

The semi-finals and finals of the Fed Cup will be played Nov 22-26 at the defending champion US.

In group B in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Czech Republic finished 3-0 to advance. In group A in Bari, Italy, Spain also moved on 3-0.

In yesterday’s only tie in Bratislava, Austria defeated Slovakia 2-1, relegating the host nation from the world group. In singles, Austria’s Marion Maruska beat Deniela Hantuchova 6-4, 7-6 (1) in her debut Fed cup singles, and Austria’s no 1 Barbara Schett, defeated Karina Habsudova 6-4, 7-5. Austria retired in the doubles and forfeited the meaningless match.

In Bari yesterday, Germany beat Italy 2-1, Tathiana Garbin of Italy defeated Andrea Glass of Germany 6-2, 6-3, but the Germans bounced back, with Anke Huber beating Silvia Farina 7-6 (5), 7-5, and Huber and Barbara Rittner defeating Farina and Rita Grande 6-3, 7-5 in a doubles encounter.

Germany and Italy each entered with 1-1 records and had no chance of catching Spain. Croatia was relegated from the group after finishing 0-3.