Tennis

Italy beats China, advances to Fed Cup semifinals

(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-22 19:32

Defending champion Italy advanced to the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday after Tathiana Garbin beat Zhang Shuai 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 for an insurmountable 3-0 lead over China in the first round.

Garbin, ranked 23rd in the world, also beat Sun Tian Tian 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 on Saturday in the opening singles match of the best-of-five series on clay at the Nova Yardinia outdoor sports complex.

Flaviana Pennetta won the other singles rubber 0-6, 7-5, 3-0 on Saturday against Peng Shuai, who retired with a hamstring injury.

Zhang replaced Peng.

Italy will play either France or Japan in the semifinals on July 14-15.