World No. 1 Roger Federer opens defense of his U.S.

Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands rallied to win their doubles match against the Czech Republic Sunday, sending the United States on to the Fed Cup finals. The American team will play for the title in November against Italy, which eliminated the defending champion Russian team 4-1 in the other semifinal at Castellaneta Marina, Italy. Huber and Mattek-Sands won their match against Kveta Peschke and Iveta Benesova at Brno in the Czech Republic 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1. I'm speechless, Huber said.

American Alexa Glatch beat Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic Saturday for a 1-1 tie in Fed Cup semifinal play. Czech Petra Kvitova posted a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) victory over American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the first match of the day. Glatch needed only 56 minutes to pull the U.S.

Russia, trying for its third straight Fed Cup title, takes on the Italian team in the semifinals this weekend at Castellaneta Marina, Italy. The winner of the best-of-five competition will go against the United States or Czech Republic for the championship. The U.S.