MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Last year's runners-up Russia advanced to the semifinals for the sixth straight season after defeating Spain 3-2 at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round tie in Moscow. The result means that Russia are non-movers in the latest Fed Cup rankings, staying in the No. 3 position, and will now host Serbia in the last four.
Russia took control on day one after singles wins for Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but when Sharapova was unable to play on Sunday due to illness, Spain almost found a way back into the tie. Carla Suarez Navarro brushed aside the world No. 3's replacement, Nadia Petrova, before the dependable Svetlana Kuznetsova sealed victory by defeating Silvia Soler-Espinosa.