Italy's team, from left, captain Corrado Barazzutti, Francesca Schiavone Flavia Pennetta, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci stand on the podium at the end of the tennis Fed Cup final match against U.S. in Reggio Calabria, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Italy secured its second Fed Cup title in four years Sunday after Flavia Pennetta comfortably beat U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2. The experienced Italians took an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the young United States team in the best-of-five series on an outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club. AP Photo logo AP Photo 2 weeks ago

Italy's team, from left, captain Corrado Barazzutti, Francesca Schiavone Flavia Pennetta, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci stand on the podium at the end of the tennis Fed Cup final match against U.S. in Reggio Calabria, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Italy secured its second Fed Cup title in four years Sunday after Flavia Pennetta comfortably beat U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2. The experienced Italians took an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the young United States team in the best-of-five series on an outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club.

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  1. REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 08: Team of Italy ( left Corrado Barazzutti, Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Penetta, Roberta Vinci, Sara Errani) sing the national anthem during the awards ceremony after the final match of the Fed Cup World Group between Italy and the USA at Circolo Tennis Rocco Polimeni on November 8, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
  2. (From L) Italy's Francesca Schiavone, Favia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci pose next to the trophy during the medal ceremony of the Fed Cup World group final on November 8, 2009 in Reggio Calabria. It was the first time Italy had beaten the USA (4-0) -- who have a record 17 Fed Cup titles -- in 10 ties and the first time they won the title on home soil.
  3. REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 08: Fllavia Pennetta of Italy during the final of the Fed Cup World Group between Italy and the USA at Circolo Tennis Rocco Polimeni on November 8, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
  4. Han Xinyun of China returns a shot against Flavia Pennetta of Italy during the first round match of China Open 2009 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on October 3, 2009. Flavia Penneta won 7-6, 6-2.
  5. Flavia Pennetta of Italy returns a shot against Han Xinyun of China during the first round match of China Open 2009 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on October 3, 2009. Flavia Penneta won 7-6, 6-2.
  6. Han Xinyun of China returns a shot against Flavia Pennetta of Italy during the first round match of China Open 2009 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on October 3, 2009. Flavia Penneta won 7-6, 6-2.
  7. REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 08: Italian tennis payers Robeta Vinci (L) and Sara Errani play against Liezel Huber and Vania King of USA during the Fed Cup World Group double's Final between Italy and the USA at Circolo Tennis Rocco Polimeni on November 8, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
  8. BEIJING - OCTOBER 04: Dinara Safina of Russia plays a backhand in her match against Roberta Vinci of Italy during day three of the 2009 China Open at the National Tennis Centre on October 4, 2009 in Beijing, China.
  9. Dinara Safina of Russia hits a return against Roberta Vinci of Italy during their match at the 2009 China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on October 4, 2009. Safina won 6-4, 6-4.
  10. Women's world number one Dinara Safina of Russia celebrates winning a shot against Roberta Vinci of Italy during their match at the China Open in Beijing on October 4, 2009. Safina beat Vinci 6-4, 6-4.
  11. Women's world number one Dinara Safina of Russia reacts after missing a shot against Roberta Vinci of Italy during their match at the China Open in Beijing on October 4, 2009. Safina beat Vinci 6-4, 6-4.
  12. Women's world number one Dinara Safina of Russia returns a shot against Roberta Vinci of Italy during their match at the China Open in Beijing on October 4, 2009. Safina beat Vinci 6-4, 6-4.
  13. REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 08: (L-R) Corrado Barazzutti,Francesca Shiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani of Italy celebrate during the awards ceremony after the final of the Fed Cup World Group between Italy and the USA at Circolo Tennis Rocco Polimeni on November 8, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
  14. REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 06: Roberto Vinci poses with Captain Corrado Barazzutti, Sara Errani, Flavia Pennetta and Francesa Schiavone and the Fed Cup Trophy ahead of their Match against The United States during a Press conference atThe Palace of the Regional Council on November 6, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
  15. TOKYO - OCTOBER 03: Ai Sugiyama of Japan warms up prior to her doubles final match with her partner Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia against Francesca Schiavone of Italy and Alisa Kleybanova of Russia during day seven of the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum on October 3, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Sugiyama retires after playing in this tournament.
  16. Retiring Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama delivers a speech during the awards ceremony of the women's doubles final against Alisa Kleybanova of Russia and Italian player Francesca Schiavone in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 3, 2009.

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