Tennis

Italy edges Ukraine 3-2 in Fed Cup

Published Feb. 5, 2012 9:28 p.m. ET

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Flavia Pennetta shook off a sore back and paired with Roberta Vinci to secure the decisive doubles point for Italy in a 3-2 win over Ukraine on Sunday that put the country in the Fed Cup semifinals.

Pennetta missed the singles matches but looked sharp in a 7-5, 0-6, 6-1 win over Lesia Tsurenko and Olga Savchuk.

Italy next faces the Czech Republic in the April 21-22 semifinals.

Earlier Sunday, former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone rallied to beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4, but Sara Errani retired midway through her match with Tsurenko to leave it tied at 2.

Italy won the Fed Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

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