Defending champions Italy will face Russia in the Fed Cup final after they won their respective semi-finals against France and the USA on Sunday.

Francesca Schiavone and Roberta Vinci sealed the decisive doubles rubber for Italy, while Nadia Petrova and Elena Vesnina did likewise for Russia in thrilling 3-2 victories.

The day had started well for France as Amelie Mauresmo made amends for Saturday's singles defeat against Schiavone by giving her team a 2-1 lead by virtue of a three-set victory over Mara Santengelo 6-7 6-0 6-4.

However, Schiavone levelled matters when winning her second point of the semi-final with a 6-4 2-6 7-5 victory over Tatiana Golovin, before the crucial doubles rubber.

Severine Bremond and Nathalie Dechy did go a set up in the final match, but eventually folded tamely as Schiavone and Vinci ran out 4-6 6-1 6-2 winners to put Italy in the final.

In Vermont, Venus Williams had put her team in the driving seat with a 6-1 6-4 win over Anna Chakvetadze.

However, Nadia Petrova made it 2-2 with an easy 6-1 6-2 win over Meilen Tu, before an exciting doubles decider.

Petrova and Vesnina eventually sealed the match against Williams and Lisa Raymond in comprehensive fashion, with a 7-1 tie-break victory to win 7-5 7-6 and reach the final, which will be played in September.

Meanwhile, Israel, China, Germany and Spain all secured their places in next year's elite group of eight nations with wins in the World Group I play-offs.