REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy (AP) - Italy has clinched its second Fed Cup title in four years, taking an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the United States after Flavia Pennetta defeated Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2.
The Italians celebrated their victory in the best-of-five series on Sunday by launching captain Corrado Barazzutti up and down into the air and running around the outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club dousing each other with water bottles.
The U.S. was without Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending tour championships final last weekend.
Italy won its first Fed Cup title in 2006 over Belgium and Justine Henin.
