Fed Cup final 2013: Italy beat Russia to win fourth crown

Italy eased to their fourth Fed Cup title after Sara Errani took just 59 minutes to beat Alisa Kleybanova as the hosts wrapped up a 4-0 win over Russia.

Errani swept to a 6-1 6-1 win in less than an hour on the clay of Cagliari to give Italy an unassailable 3-0 lead.

And Karin Knapp and Flavia Pennetta completed the whitewash with a 4-6 6-2 win over Margarita Gasparyan and Irina Khromacheva in the dead doubles rubber.

“We are very happy,” said 26-year-old Errani. “It was a very good week for us. I am happy with how I played.

“I know Alisa, she is a great player, so with a lot of tension every point was important for us and it was not easy but I am really happy.

“I was focused on every point, there was tension, there is a lot of people here and it means a lot for us.”

Meanwhile, Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti praised his players for maintaining their concentration throughout in a professional display.

“Maybe the final was very strange because we did not play against the best players from Russia but it was very tough to play in this condition,” said Barazzutti. “We had to concentrate and we were scared a little bit.

“Maybe it was one of the more easy Fed Cups that we won but I want to remember that we beat the best team in the world [Czech Republic] in the semi-final. The important thing is to win when you have a chance to win.”