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Belgium see off Fed holders Russia
 The victorious Belgium team celebrate their Fed Cup win over Russia. LIEGE, Belgium -- Belgium will meet the United States in the Fed Cup semifinals following victories by Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne over last year's champions Russia. French Open champion Henin-Hardenne booked Belgium's berth with a 6-2 6-0 win against Elena Dementieva while U.S. Open champion Clijsters crushed Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-4. Russia had been aiming to win the Fed Cup for the third year in succession. Belgium beat them in the 2001 final. Henin-Hardenne's second win, after her three-set victory over Nadia Petrova on Saturday, gave Belgium an unbeatable 3-1 lead and a home semifinal tie in July. Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne then delighted the home crowd by taking to the court for the inconsequential doubles match, though they lost 7-6 7-5 to Dinara Safina and Kirilenko to take the final score to 3-2. This was Henin-Hardenne's first Fed Cup match in three years and Belgium are hoping that the world number four is back to stay. Clijsters said her team mate's return "was the difference." Henin-Hardenne, however, declined to make a firm commitment for the July 15-16 semifinal, which takes place a week after Wimbledon. "We'll have to look at the calendar. It's always very hard to predict what's going to happen; let's go step by step," Henin-Hardenne said. The teams ended Saturday at 1-1 and the home side took the lead on Sunday when Clijsters beat Kirilenko. Clijsters got over her shock defeat to Dementieva on Saturday by racing through Sunday's first set in less than 20 minutes. She proved too strong for Kirilenko, ranked 20 places below her, and took the second set in similar style. "I am very happy the way I turned things around from yesterday and I felt a lot better today," Clijsters said. "I was hitting the ball a lot more cleanly and got behind the ball which is what my game is all about. (I am) just looking forward to celebrating now." Kirilenko was a late call-up to replace Petrova whose epic battle with Henin-Hardenne, which she lost 7-6 4-6 3-6, took its toll. Meanwhile, Fed Cup debutante Jamea Jackson led the United States to a 3-2 win over Germany Ettenheim. Jackson's 7-6 6-2 win over Martina Mueller on Sunday gave the United States an unassailable 3-1 lead after she and Jill Craybas had both triumphed on Saturday. With Germany producing a late fightback in the doubles rubber, the match ended 3-2 to the visitors. U.S. captain Zina Garrison was jubilant after the win. "We will celebrate tonight," she said. "I am extremely proud of my team. Everybody could see that there's teamwork on and off the court. We hit together, fight together, have dinner together. I couldn't wish for a better spirit." German captain Barbara Rittner was bitterly disappointed that her team could not take advantage of the weakened U.S. squad, which was missing Lindsay Davenport and sisters Venus and Serena Williams. "I don't know when we'll next have such a good chance to get into the semifinal," she said after the match. "Unfortunately, the team is far too inexperienced and nervous." With the contest already over, world number 14 Anna-Lena Groenefeld and doubles partner Jasmin Woehr made a poor start in the final match, but battled back to earn a consolation victory, defeating Vania King and Shenay Perry 2-6 6-4 6-2. After losing to world number 75 Jackson a day earlier, the 20-year-old Groenefeld had briefly handed Germany a lifeline by beating Craybas 6-2 7-5 in Sunday's opening rubber. Groenefeld, who had struggled with her nerves on court on the first day, said she had managed to relax more on Sunday. "I dealt with the pressure much better today." Germany now face a relegation battle on July 15 and 16 to preserve their status in the Fed Cup world group. The win extends the Americans' advantage over Germany in head-to-head meetings to 7-4. The two nations last met in 1992 when Germany won 2-1 in a semifinal in Frankfurt before going on to record their last Fed Cup triumph. Italy to face SpainMeanwhile, Francesca Schiavone defeated world number one Amelie Mauresmo on Sunday to help Italy beat former champions France 4-1 in the Fed Cup first round. The Italians will face Spain in July's semifinals. Schiavone put the visitors 2-1 up with a 4-6 7-6 6-4 defeat of Mauresmo in Sunday's first rubber. Mauresmo wasted a match point and saved another in a tight contest but bowed out by hitting a backhand wide. There was some confusion after the final point, with Mauresmo and France captain Georges Goven briefly contesting the umpire's call before accepting defeat. Flavia Pennetta, beaten in straight sets by Mauresmo on Saturday, defeated Nathalie Dechy 6-4 6-2 on Sunday to give Italy a winning 3-1 lead. Italians Mara Santangelo and Roberta Vinci beat Emilie Loit and Virginie Razzano 6-1 6-4 in the doubles to end the match 4-1. Mauresmo had humbled Pennetta 6-1 6-1 to pull France level at 1-1 on Saturday after Schiavone had beaten Dechy 6-7 6-3 6-3. While Italy go on to meet Spain, who knocked out Austria 5-0, in the July 15-16 semifinals, France will go into a world group playoff. France, twice Fed Cup champions, lost to Russia in the last two finals and had won their six previous meetings against Italy. 
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