Italy firmly in control of Fed Cup final after opening rubbers

ITALY are on the brink of Fed Cup glory after storming to victory against USA in the first two rubbers of the final in Rome.

 ONE HAND ON THE CUP: Italy are on the verge of FED Cup victory after Flavia Pennetta (pictured) and Francesca Schiavone record victories in Rome

Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone both romped to straight sets victories over youngsters Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin at the Reggio Calabria to leave the Italians needing just one more victory to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2006.

By contrast, the Americans haven't tasted FED Cup success since the likes of Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati were in their pomp and were victorious in 2000.

With both Williams sisters absent through injury after the WTA Championships in Doha last weekend, the young American team were expected to struggle in Rome.

Sure enough, world number 11 Pennetta fired Italy ahead in the opening rubber with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over 20-year old Glatch.

The American - ranked 121 places lower than her experienced openent - had pulled off one of the biggest upsets of this year's French Open when she smashed Pennetta 6-1, 6-1 in their first round encounter.

But Glatch showed little sign of repeating the feat in Rome as a solitary break gifted the first set to Pennetta.

And after an early loss of serve in the second set, the Italian stepped up the tempo, wrong-footing Glatch on countless occasions as she secured the win.

Having reached her first Grand Slam quarter final at the US Open this season, 18-year old Oudin was always going to provide a sterner test to the Italian cause.

But 29-year old Schiavone has shown a resurgence in form herself this season, having lifted the Kremlin Cup in Moscow in October, and she dismissed the American 7-6, 6-2.

The reverse singles will take precedence on Sunday with Pennetta and Oudin to lock horns first, followed by Schiavone and Glatch and, if required, the deciding doubles tie.