Kuznetsova powers Russia into Fed Cup semi-final

MOSCOW, Apr 22 (Reuters) Russia crushed Spain 5-0 in their Fed Cup quarter-final today, setting up a possible mouth-watering clash with the United States in the last four.

World number five Svetlana Kuznetsova secured the winning point for the home team by thrashing Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 4-6 6-0 in the first reverse singles.

After losing the second set, Kuznetsova took complete control in the third, hammering the Spanish number one into submission after one hour 42 minutes.

After wasting several break points to get back on serve in the second game of the final set, the 29th-ranked Medina Garrigues took a medical time-out to treat her lower back.

The Spaniard's resistance crumbled after she surrendered her serve again in the next game to go 3-0 down and Kuznetsova cruised to victory, finishing the match with an ace.

''The injury was affecting my movement and I couldn't put up much of a fight after that,'' Medina Garrigues told reporters.

Anna Chakvetadze, playing in place of world number nine Nadia Petrova, beat Nuria Llagostera Vives 3-6 7-6 6-2 before Petrova and Elena Vesnina dismissed Lourdes Dominguez Lino and Laura Pous Tio 6-1 4-6 6-2 in doubles to compete the whitewash.

Yesterday, Petrova overcame a slow start to beat Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-4 in the opening singles rubber and Kuznetsova thrashed 66th-ranked Domingues Lino 6-3 6-2 in 66 minutes to put the Russians in command.

DIZZY KUZNETSOVA ''I felt nervous yesterday because I had not played Fed Cup for two years and today I think I was just too excited to play,'' Kuznetsova told Russian television NTV on Sunday.

''In the second set I started to feel dizzy and my game suffered.

In the third, I just relaxed and played much better.'' Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev, who also coaches the country's Davis Cup team, took victory in his stride.

''It was expected but still winning always gives you positive emotions,'' said Tarpishchev, who remains on course to achieve a unique double by winning both the Fed and Davis Cups in the same year after also guiding the Russian men to the last four of their competition.

''One of our strengths has always been the squad's depth.'' The 2004 and 2005 champions were missing world number two Maria Sharapova and 13th-ranked Elena Dementieva through injuries, but still had too much power for the Spaniards, who have no one ranked in the top 25.

But the Russians will surely need to be at full strength for the semi-finals on July 14 and 15 when they are likely to meet a powerful US team, led by Venus and Serena Williams.

The Americans were leading Belgium 2-0 after the first day of their semi-final in Delray Beach, Florida.

REUTERS SHB RAI2150