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Italy claim first Fed Cup triumph

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CHARLEROI, Belgium -- Italy won the Fed Cup for the first time when Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne was forced to retire with a knee injury during the deciding doubles in Charleroi.

The French Open champion won both her singles matches despite the injury, but her leg was too weak to complete the doubles and Italy claimed a 3-2 success.

The Italian duo of Francesca Schiavone and Roberta Vinci led Henin-Hardenne and Kirsten Flipkens 3-6 6-2 2-0 when Henin-Hardenne was forced to stop.

The 26-year-old Schiavone, who has yet to win a WTA event, was the star of the Italian team. Despite losing to Henin-Hardenne earlier Sunday, she beat Flipkens on Saturday.

She was hugged and mobbed by teammates and coaches while the Belgians gathered in a tearful embrace.

Even ahead of the doubles, Henin-Hardenne already feared for the worst.

"I have no option but to play," she said, knowing the Belgians would stand no chance without her.

It was the second time she had been forced to quit in a big final. At the Australian Open, she retired with a stomach bug against Amelie Mauresmo.

A hurting Henin-Hardenne had given Belgium a 2-1 lead with 6-4 7-5 win over Schiavone in the first reverse singles match, but Mara Santangelo thrived in her Fed Cup singles debut, beating Flipkens 6-7 6-3 6-0 to make it 2-2.

Belgium's chances were already seriously damaged when Kim Clijsters, the world's fourth-ranked player, pulled out injured last month.

Substitute Flipkens lost all three of her matches and never impressed.

Doubles specialist

The Belgians had played just one doubles each this year, both losses. Schiavone had reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open and Vinci is a doubles specialist.

With fast and spectacular play, it quickly looked that one break would be enough in the first set, and the spirited Belgians made the breakthrough when Vinci double-faulted to give the hosts a 5-3 lead.

Henin-Hardenne, dominating Flipkens throughout, served out the first set.

With the raucous crowd of 6,000 cheering the home team, Italy's chances looked slim. Even when Henin-Hardenne faced two break points early in the second set, she served herself out of them.

Flipkens, however, could not hold on to her serve and the Italians came back one last time.They took the second set 6-2.

Belgium's undoing came early in the third set, trailing 0-40 on her serve, Henin-Hardenne went to the sidelines and had her heavy bandage undone. After a long massage, she returned but when she lost her game, she called it quits to the dismay of the crowd at the Spiroudome.

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