MADRID, Nov 11: Belgium were crowned Fed Cup champions for the first time on Sunday after Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters scored devastating singles victories to give them a winning 2-0 lead over Russia in the final.

The Belgian pair have been in irresistible form all week at the eight-nation finals and they clinched the title with a minimum of fuss.

Henin, the world number seven, secured the first point in the best-of-three final when she claimed a 6-0 6-3 victory over Nadia Petrova in 50 minutes.

Clijsters, at 18 a year younger than Henin and ranked two places higher in the world, made certain of the title with an equally brutal 6-0 6-4 win against the world number 15 Elena Dementieva.

Henin, who came through an exhausting three-setter against Conchita Martinez of Spain on Saturday, seemed determined to give herself an easier afternoon as she raced through the first set against Petrova in 21 minutes.

She broke in the first game as a nervous Petrova put a limp backhand into the net at break point.

Henin held her own serve to love and never looked back, picking up two more breaks of serve on her way to taking the first set.

Petrova took a bathroom break at the end of the first set and she looked far more composed on her return, finally getting her powerful serve into gear.

She held comfortably in the first game of the second set, rounding off with a thundering ace.

Petrova was still unable to put any pressure on the Henin serve, though, with the Belgian playing an impeccable baseline game.

Henin took her first break point of the second set in game five and then held to love to move 4-2 ahead and within sight of victory.

Clijsters then set about securing victory in the same style, breaking Dementieva in the first game as the Russian served a double fault on the crucial point.

Dementieva continued to pile up unforced errors, allowing Clijsters to take the set in only 14 minutes.

Like Petrova, the Russian improved in the second set, staying with her opponent until game five.

Clijsters missed her first break point of the second set, blasting a forehand wide of the open court, but she made her second as Dementieva put a simple forehand long.

The Russian saved a match point in game 10 with a brilliant return winner down the line but a stunning Clijsters serve out wide at 40-30 gave her no chance and the Belgian leapt from the court to take the congratulations of her team mates.

Petrova and Elena Likhovtseva were pencilled in for the doubles against Els Callens and Laurence Courtois, with the game set to take place after the presentation ceremony.

RESULTS (Belgian names first):

Justine Henin beat Nadia Petrova 6-0 6-3

Kim Clijsters beat Elena Dementieva 6-0 6-4

Saturday’s results:

Group A

France beat Argentina 2-1 (French names first) Argentina beat France in first singles match - walkover; Amelie Mauresmo beat Maria Emilia Salerni 5-7 6-1 6-0; Virgine Razzano/Nathalie Tauziat beat Laura Montalvo/Salerni 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-3

Group B

Belgium beat Spain 3-0 (Belgian names first) Justine Henin beat Conchita Martinez 6-3 5-7 7-5; Kim Clijsters beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-1 6-2; Els Callens/Laurence Courtois beat Gala Leon Garcia/Virginia Ruano Pascual 4-6 6-3 7-5.—Reuters