LONDON, April 28: Fed Cup champions Belgium eased into the quarterfinals of the women’s team competition on Sunday by completing a comfortable victory over Australia.

Wimbledon runner-up Justine Henin clinched the decisive win, beating Alicia Molik 6-2, 6-1 to give the hosts a winning 3-1 lead at the Royal Leopold Club in Brussels.

Nicole Pratt had earlier given Australia a glimmer of hope beating Els Callens 6-2, 6-4.

Belgium will face Italy in the last eight after the Italians thrashed Sweden 5-0 in Milan.

Adriana Serra Zanetti beat Asa Carlsson-Svensson 6-3, 7-6 and Roberta Vinci beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-2 before teaming up with Maria Elena Camerin to beat Arvidsson and Maria Wolfbrandt 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 to complete the whitewash.

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Magui Serna set Spain on their way to a 4-1 victory over Hungary. Sanchez-Vicario brushed aside Zsofia Gubacsi 6-0, 6-2 and Serna assured Spain of a place after she beat Rita Kuti Kis 6-3, 6-1.—Reuters