Czechs through to last four

Czech Republic edged out Germany to qualify for the Fed Cup semi-finals.

Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke won the decisive doubles rubber 6-1 6-3 against Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Tatjana Malek to earn the Czechs a dramatic 3-2 win in Brno.

Earlier in the day, Hradecka beat Andrea Petkovic 6-1 7-6 (7-5) only for Groenefeld to level the tie with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 defeat of Petra Kvitova.

The United States cruised past France 4-1.

Rising star Melanie Oudin made sure of its place in the last four with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory over Julie Coin to give the States an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Pauline Parmentier claimed a point back for the French with a straight-sets defeat of Christina McHale but Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands completed the rout by winning the doubles against Stephanie Cohen-Aloro and Alize Cornet.

Defending champion Italy is also through after beating Ukraine 4-1.

The tie was evenly poised at 1-1 overnight but Flavia Pennetta's 7-5 7-6 (7-3) victory over Alona Bondarenko put the visitors in the ascendancy in Kharkiv.

Francesca Schiavone settled the contest with a 2-6 6-1 6-1 win against Kateryna Bondarenko, and Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci combined to win the doubles against Mariya Koryttseva and Viktoria Kutuzova.

There was another tight finish in Belgrade as Russia edged out Serbia 3-2.

The hosts appeared to be in the driving seat when Jelena Jankovic put her side 2-1 ahead after beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 4-6 6-3.

But former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic was thrashed 6-2 6-3 by Alisa Kleybanova to level things once again.

And it was Russia which came out on top in the doubles, Kleybanova and Kuznetsova beating Jankovic and Ivanovic 6-1 6-4.