Russia moved a step closer to winning their third consecutive Fed Cup title as they booked a spot in the semi-finals by coasting to victory over China.

Given the task of replacing Olympic champion Elena Dementieva, Anna Chakvetadze delighted the home fans in Moscow and gave the Russians an unassailable 3-0 lead in the one-sided tie with a 6-1 6-2 defeat of Zi Yan.

"I'm happy with the way I played. I did have a tough time with my serve and I know I have to work on it and hopefully I'll get my confidence back and start to play better tennis," said Chakvetadze, who won the match in a mere 72 minutes.

Russia completed an overall 5-0 victory after Alisa Kleybanova won in the singles and Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova were victorious in the doubles.

Next up for the Russians is a 2007 rematch with Italy, who defeated France.

Flavia Pennetta saw Italy open an unassailable 3-0 lead with an easy 6-2 6-2 win over an emotional Alize Cornet.

Pennetta, who on Saturday received a verbal warning and was fined US$2,000 for making an obscene gesture towards the umpire during her match against Amelie Mauresmo, raced into a 5-2 lead and was never really tested in front of disappointed French fans in Orleans.

At the end of the seventh game of the second set Cornet, perhaps sensing her country was about to be ousted from the competition, broke down in tears after a changeover.

The rematch of the 2007 final against Russia will take place in Italy on April 25 and 26.

France, champions in 2003 and runners-up in 2004 and 2005, have now lost in the opening round three times in the last four years following the 5-0 defeat.

With their backs to the wall, the United States were indebted to strong performances from both a 17-year-old and their doubles team to eliminate Argentina and clinch a berth in the semi-finals.

Teenager Melanie Oudin withstood a 30-minute rain delay and rallied from a set down to defeat Betini Jozami 2-6 6-1 6-2 and force a deciding doubles match.

The American pair of Julie Ditty and Liezel Huber then cruised to a 6-2 6-3 triumph over Gisela Dulko and Jozami to seal a 3-2 victory.

Seeking to win a record 18th Fed Cup title but first since 2000, the United States will next face the Czech Republic, who are into the last four for the first time since 1997 after ousting Spain 4-1 in Brno.

Dulko had earlier defeated American Jill Craybas 6-1 6-3 to give the Argentinians a 2-1 advantage, her second victory after she triumphed over Oudin on Saturday.

With the Americans on the brink of elimination, Oudin admitted she was nervous heading into her match.

"Well, I definitely had a lot of pressure because I knew if I lost then we would lose," she said.

"I mean, no one can say there was no pressure there. There definitely was. I was definitely thinking about it.

"But once I got out there, it was just another match. I wasn't trying to think about that or anything else. Just I'm playing another match against another girl. Just hoping to win, like I normally do."

Captain Mary Joe Fernandez was certainly pleased with Oudin's effort.

"For someone so young, playing in their first Fed Cup when it's all on the line there, she had to win to stay in it, she really came through," Fernandez said.

"I'm really proud of her."

Despite Argentina's defeat, Dulko was happy with her form.

"I think I played a really good tennis match. Much better than yesterday," Dulko said.

"I was really focused from the beginning. I knew it was going to be a tough match. I really respect Jill."

Pennetta, meanwhile, was glad to put the events of Saturday behind her as she outclassed Cornet.

"It was a perfect match today, I hardly made any mistakes, I was very focused on my game," she said.

"I tried to play best. It was tough for me to play after what happened yesterday. Now we can have a nice night out."

Cornet, on the other hand, was disappointed with her below-par performance.

"I played really bad today," she said. "Flavia played great but my tennis was not here today."