LONDON (AP) _ Belgium completed an easy first win over the United States on Sunday and will play for the Fed Cup against first-time finalist Italy.
Kim Clijsters overpowered Vania King 6-0, 6-1 to clinch the semifinal in the first reverse singles of an eventual 4-1 victory in Ostend.
``For any tennis player it's the most beautiful situation to be in, to be able to play that final match or be able to win that last point for your country to take them into the finals,'' Clijsters said.
Italy's smooth progress in Zaragoza hit a bump when Anabel Medina Garrigues beat Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-2 in Sunday's opener for Spain to halve its deficit at 2-1, but Flavia Pennetta then guaranteed Italy's first final by defeating Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2, 6-4.
``This is unbelievable because, in the beginning, we didn't think we could make it to the final,'' Pennetta said. ``It's an incredible sensation to win the last point.''
Belgium will host the final on Sept. 16-17, a week after the U.S. Open.
Italy has won all six previous ties against Belgium _ the last time in 2002 _ but it never had to face U.S. Open champion Clijsters or French Open winner Justine Henin-Hardenne, who withdrew from the semifinal citing fatigue after also reaching the Wimbledon final a week ago.
The Belgians think they'll use another hardcourt to blunt the claycourters from Italy, but their hopes will also depend on the availability of Henin-Hardenne, who expects to go far in the U.S. Open with Clijsters.
``We will certainly need Justine,'' said Clijsters, who has committed to the final.
Belgium won its only Fed Cup title in 2001, also the only previous time it reached the final.
Clijsters had struggled on Saturday to dispatch Jamea Jackson but was focused against King, who won her only game at the start of the second set. King was making her Fed Cup singles debut in place of a sick Jill Craybas.
Belgium completed its first win over the United States in five ties when America's Mashona Washington, a replacement for an ill Jackson, retired with a strained right knee while leading Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 1-3.
Americans Craybas and King won the doubles against Leslie Butkiewicz and Caroline Maes 6-1, 6-2.
Belgium captain Carl Maes predicted a 4-1 win, but not winning the first three singles matches.
``The two matches on the first day were nerve-racking after losing the first set in each of them, and now coming through is an overwhelming feeling,'' he said.
In Zaragoza, Medina Garrigues lifted Spain's hopes of a comeback when she beat Schiavone, but Pennetta sealed Italy's dream result.
Pennetta won the last four games against Dominguez Lino for the first set, then broke the Spaniard at 4-4 in the second and won on her first match point with a backhand volley.
With the result known, the doubles was cancelled because of extreme heat.
In World Group playoffs for places in the 2007 competition, China beat Germany 4-1 to qualify for the elite group for the first time, France rallied from 2-1 down to defeat the Czech Republic 3-2, Japan swept Austria 5-0, and 2004 and 2005 champion Russia retained its place by defeating Croatia 3-2.
