Fernando Verdasco continued his impressive build-up to the French Open when he outslugged last year's Roland Garros runner-up Robin Soderling to win the Barcelona Open Sunday. The Spanish fifth seed, ranked one place lower than his Swedish opponent at No. 9, showed signs of fatigue after his run to last week's Monte Carlo Masters final but dug deep to oust second seed Soderling 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on another day of warm sunshine at the Reial Club de Tennis. Left-hander Verdasco started strongly on the Catalan clay and took the first set when a thumping forehand down the line secured a second break of serve. The powerful Swede, who had not dropped a set on his way to the final, found his range to level the match before Verdasco claimed a crucial break to move 3-1 ahead in the decider. Roared on by the home fans, the 26-year-old sealed his second title of the year when Soderling went wide with a backhand to make Verdasco the eighth straight Spanish winner of the huge Conde de Godo trophy. He fell to the ground, staining his blue shirt with red dust, before running to the net to shake hands with Soderling and embracing his family and coaching team. Italy in Fed Cup final Flavia Pennetta beat Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (3), 6-2 Sunday to qualify Italy for its fourth Fed Cup final in five years. The victory gave Italy an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series, and then the hosts won two more matches to post a 5-0 shutout. The 60th-ranked Kvitova was a late substitute for the top Czech player, Lucie Safarova, who managed to win only two games against Francesca Schiavone Saturday. Russia is playing the United States in the other semifinal. Italy won the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009. Sara Errani beat Hradecka 6-4, 6-2 and Errani and Schiavone teamed in doubles to defeat Hradecka and Kveta Peschke 6-2, 6-4. Russia leads 2-1 Elena Dementieva fended off a gritty fightback by Melanie Oudin in the first reverse singles to give Russia a 2-1 lead over the United States in their Fed Cup semi-final Sunday. World No. 6 Dementieva held her nerve despite not playing at her best to beat the 31st-ranked American 7-6, 0-6, 6-3 on the indoor hard court in Birmingham, Alabama. The best-of-five tie will be decided later Sunday with the second reverse singles and concluding doubles. The winner will advance to the November final against holder Italy. Slovakia in World Group Slovakia clinched a place in the Fed Cup World Group for 2011 as Daniela Hantuchova and Magdalena Rybarikova won their decisive doubles match on Sunday to claim a 3-2 victory over Serbia in the playoff. Hantuchova and Rybarikova beat Jelena Jankovic and Bojana Jovanovski 6-4, 6-3 in the decider to condemn Serbia to a spot in World Group II. Earlier, Jovanovski defeated Rybarikova 6-1, 7-6 (4) to level the series for Serbia after Hantuchova had beaten Jankovic 7-6 (2), 7-5 in Sunday's first singles match. Belgium qualifies Yanina Wickmayer beat Maret Ani 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday to give injury-depleted Belgium an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Estonia and a place in next year's Fed Cup World Group. Earlier, Justine Henin came in as a replacement for the injured Kim Clijsters for Belgium but, playing with a broken finger, lost 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3 to Kaia Kanepi. Belgium led 2-0 after Saturday's singles following victories for Clijsters and Wickmayer. In the first singles match, Clijsters tore a muscle in her left foot. France stays in World Group France remained in the Fed Cup World Group on Sunday by winning the last two matches for a 3-2 victory over Germany. The two teams started the day at 1-1 in the relegation playoffs. Andrea Petkovic of Germany beat Aravane Rezai 6-1, 6-7 (2) before Pauline Parmentier leveled by defeating Julia Goerges 7-6 (2), 6-4, setting up a decisive doubles match on clay at Palmengarten. In the doubles, the French duo of Julie Coin and Alize Cornet beat Kristina Barrois and Petkovic, 6-3, 6
