MOSCOW, Sept 16: Russia won their third Fed Cup title in four years on Sunday when Svetlana Kuznetsova saved two match points in a second-set tiebreaker before beating Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 in the first reverse singles.

Kuznetsova’s victory gave the home team an unassailable 3-0 lead over last year’s surprise winners Italy in the final at Moscow’s Luzhniki arena.

Russia eventually won the two-day tie 4-0. Elena Vesnina stepped in for world number five Anna Chakvetadze to beat Italy number two Mara Santangelo 6-2, 6-4 in the dead singles rubber before the two teams decided to cancel the doubles match.

Heavy favourites Russia had enjoyed a commanding 2-0 lead after day one when Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze both won their singles.—Reuters