The replacements could not get the job done for the United States in the Fed Cup quarter-finals.

Even Martina Navratilova was handed her first-ever loss in the international competition.

Austria eliminated the US 4-1 after sweeping Sunday's three matches in Innsbruck.

The tie was level at 1-1 after Saturday's singles, but Barbara Schett routed Chanda Rubin 6-3 6-2 and Barbara Schwartz pulled out a 7-6 (7/3) 4-6 10-8 triumph over Lisa Raymond in three hours to clinch the win.

Schwartz has played sparingly over the last 18 months due to wrist and elbow injuries.

She is looking forward to facing Russia in what will be Austria's first semi-final appearance since 2002.

"I couldn't go two years ago, which hurt, so maybe we can win it this time," Schwartz said.

"We will fight hard. Austria is such a small country, I am very proud."

With Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport unavailable this weekend, Rubin and Raymond were pressed into service.

"She won the match, I didn't lose it," Raymond said.

"I don't see her all year and then she comes out and plays unbelievable.

"I felt like if I could pull it off, we would have won the doubles."

But the Americans did not win the doubles.

Schett teamed with Patricia Wartusch to defeat Navratilova and Raymond 6-3 0-6 6-3 in the dead rubber.

It was Navratilova's first loss in 41 Fed Cup matches, with most of the wins coming while she was dominating the WTA Tour more than 15 years ago.

"I couldn't care less, that's just a footnote," Navratilova said.

"Losing the tie is the history. If I was worried about it, I wouldn't have taken the risk and played."

Russia, last year's runner-up, advanced past Argentina in Buenos Aires 4-1.

French Open champion Anastasia Myskina gave the Russians a 2-1 lead with a 6-1 7-5 victory over 19-year-old Gisela Dulko and Vera Zvonareva - playing singles in place of Svetlana Kuznetsova - clinched it with a 6-3 6-0 thrashing of Mariana Diaz-Oliva.

In Rimini, defending champions France defeated hosts Italy, 3-2.

Amelie Mauresmo gave the French an unbeatable 3-0 advantage with a 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 triumph over Francesca Schiavone.

France will play Spain, who beat a weakened Belgium team, in the last four.

The visiting Belgians, who were without world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne and world number two Kim Clijsters due to illness and injury, held a 2-0 lead after Saturday's matches.

But Anabel Medina Garrigues dispatched Els Callens 6-4 6-0 and Maria Sanchez Lorenzo downed Kirsten Flipkens 6-3 6-4, making the doubles match a winner-takes-all clash.

Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual paired up, and with the momentum behind them, the Spanish pair overcame Callens and Flipkens 6-3 6-2.