26 November 2004	Friday	13 Shawwal 1425

MOSCOW, Nov 25: Tatiana Golovin and Nathalie Dechy led holders France to a 5-0 mauling of Spain on Thursday to set up a Fed Cup final clash against Russia.

Dechy secured the decisive third point in the first of Thursdays reverse singles beating Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-1 while Golovin saw off Marta Marrero 6-3, 6-4.

Russia made sure of their place in the Saturday-Sunday final here when French Open champion Anastasia Myskina came from a set down to defeat Yvonne Meusberger 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and give her side an unassailable 3-0 lead over Austria.

France, who led 2-0 overnight, completed their semifinal clean sweep when Marion Bartoli and Emilie Loit beat Virginia Ruano Pascual and Marrero 7-5, 6-2 in the doubles.

At the weekend, France, who went into the semifinal without Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce, will be bidding for a third Fed Cup title to follow victories in 1997 and 2003.

Golovin, 16, left her native Russia at eight months old and is returning to her mother country for the first time this week. "We did the job and won the matches against Spain. It was hard to play (against Marrero) because we had already won the semi-final but now we will try to get ready for Russia," said the blonde.

French captain Guy Forget insisted that the Russians, who also boast US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in their line-up, will be a much tougher proposition than the Spaniards. "The Russians are better, almost physically, technically, mentally," said Forget.

"But I don't think we're that far behind and the only goal for us will be to go out on the court and try to play the best we can. "If we do play our best tennis, from first to last, which is not easy, then maybe we have a little chance," he continued.

"The Russians will decide how high they can put the bar." France ended Russias hopes of reaching the Fed Cup Final last year, upsetting the hosts 3-2 in the semifinals here.

THURSDAY RESULTS Russia lead Austria 4-0 (Russian names first) Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Daniela Kix 6-1 6-1; Anastasia Myskina bt Yvonne Meusburger 3-6 6-3 6-1.

FRANCE BEAT SPAIN 5-0 (French names first) Emilie Loit/Marion Bartoli bt Virginia Ruano Pascual/Marta Marrero 7-5 6-2; Tatiana Golovin bt Marta Marrero 6-3 6-4; Nathalie Dechy bt Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-1. -Agencies