PARIS, July 10: Defending champions Russia and runners-up France booked a rematch of last year’s Fed Cup final by winning their semifinal ties at home on Sunday. Anastasia Myskina clinched victory for Russia in Moscow when she beat Jill Craybas of the United States in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 to give her side an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

In Aix-en-Provence, Amelie Mauresmo overwhelmed Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain 6-3, 6-1 to hand France an unassailable 3-0 lead and their third successive Fed Cup final spot.

France — winners in 1997 and 2003 — will host the final at Roland Garros in Paris the weekend of September 17-18.

Mauresmo won through in one hour 12 minutes to achieve her second victory of the competition after cruising past world number 33 Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday.

Mauresmo broke in the second game and found herself twice within a point of a 4-0 lead against 39th-ranked Llagostera Vives.

The Spaniard saved the game and broke back, but the Wimbledon semi-finalist hit back to claim the set.

Mauresmo raced to a 5-1 lead in the second and served out for the tie when the Spaniard hit a backhand wide.

Veteran Mary Pierce, this year’s French Open finalist, defeated Llagostera Vives 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Russia, who lost all four previous Fed Cup ties against their opponents, finally recorded their first win against the 17-time champions.

Myskina was the heroine after Elena Dementieva fell 6-1, 6-2 earlier in the day to Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.

Dementieva and Myskina won both rubbers Saturday against Mashona Washington, 7-5, 6-4, and Venus Williams 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, respectively.

Fed Cup results:

At Moscow

Russia 4 United States 1

Venus Williams (USA) bt Elena Dementieva (RUS) 6-1, 6-2; Anastasia Myskina (RUS) bt Jill Craybas (USA) 6-2, 6-4; Vera Douchevina/Dinara Safina (RUS) bt Venus Williams/Corina Morariu (USA) 6-1, 7-5

At Aix-en-Provence, France

France 3 Spain 1

Arantxa Parra Santoja (ESP) bt Severine Beltrame (FRA) 6-4, 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) bt Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-3, 6-1; Amelie Mauresmo/Mary Pierce (FRA) v Anabel Medina Garrigues/Maria Antonia Sanchez (ESP) - rain, rubber not finished

Russia play France in final Sept 17/18

World Group 1

Play-offs

At Lausanne

Switzerland 1 Austria 4

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) bt Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 6-3, 6-4; Tamira Paszek (AUT) bt Myriam Casanova (SUI) 6-1, 6-3; Sandra Klemenschits/Daniela Klemenschits (AUT) bt Stefanie Vogele/Gaklle Widmer (SUI) 6-0, 6-2

At Bol, Croatia

Croatia 1 Germany 3

Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) bt Karolina Sprem (CRO) 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2; Julija Schruff (GER) bt Jelena Kostanic (CRO) 6-2, 6-4

At Bree, Belgium

Belgium 2 Argentina 2

Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt Gisela Dulko (ARG) 6-4, 6-1; Mariana Diaz-Oliva (ARG) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-2, 6-2;

At Liberec, Czech Republic

Czech Republic 2 Italy 3

Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) bt Francesce Schiavone (ITA) 6-2, 7-5; Flavia Pennetta (ITA) bt Kveta Peschke (CZE) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; Francesce Schiavone/Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Nicole Vaidisova/Kveta Peschke (CZE)(CZE) - 6-4, 6-4.—AFP