TENNIS in DEPTH.

Italy bids to end a 9-tie losing streak when it takes on USA in the 2009 Final this weekend. The Italians have never defeated the Americans in Fed Cup and have won just 3 rubbers in their 9 previous meetings. In the 1986 quarterfinal in Prague, Italy took a surprise 1-0 lead when Sandra Cecchini handed Chris Evert her first ever Fed Cup singles defeat, ending a 29-match undefeated streak, before USA hit back to win.

Italy is through to its 3rd Fed Cup Final in 4 years and is looking to win its 2nd Fed Cup title, having defeated Belgium to lift the Cup in 2006. It defeated former champion France in the 1st round before surprising defending champion Russia in the semifinals.

USA has gone the distance in both of its ties this year, defeating both Argentina and Czech Republic by winning the deciding doubles rubber. It has reached its first final since 2003 and is bidding to win its 18th title – but first since 2000 – in Reggio Calabria. This is the longest gap between US Fed Cup successes.

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It didn’t come easily, but world No.1 Dinara Safina won her third Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title of the year on Sunday, defeating Sara Errani in a nail-biter for the Banka Koper Slovenia Open in Portoroz.

Safina, who had won her first two titles of the year at Premier-level events in Rome and Madrid during the clay court season, had solid scorelines in her first four matches at the International-level Banka Koper Slovenia Open, her grand total of games lost in eight straight sets being 17.

The top-seeded Russian was certainly pushed to the limit in the final by an in-form Errani, the fifth seed, who toughed out a 76-minute opening set and even served for the match at 5-4 in the third before finally going down to the world’s best player in seven minutes shy of three hours, 67(5) 61 75.

Safina improved to 12-11 in Tour singles finals, including 3-4 in 2009. She is the second this year to win three Tour singles titles, after Victoria Azarenka (who has two International titles and one Premier title to her name this season).

Errani was playing her second straight Tour final, having finished runner-up to Flavia Pennetta at Palermo a week ago. The Italian was looking for her very first Top 10 win; she was also trying to become the fourth woman from her country ever to upset a reigning world No.1, following Tathiana Garbin, Francesca Schiavone (who has done it twice) and Pennetta.

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Top seed Dinara Safina and defending champion Sara Errani raced into the semi-finals of the Banka Koper Slovenia Open.

World number one Safina, making her first tournament appearance since winning only one game in her Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Venus Williams, eased past Maria Elena Camerin 6-3 6-0 in Portoroz.

Italy’s Errani, the fifth seed, was also an easy winner as she ended the run of Croatian wild card Petra Martic 6-1 6-1.

Errani next faces Stefanie Voegele, who defeated Rossana De Los Rios 6-1 6-1, while Alberta Brianti saw off Camille Pin 6-3 6-2 to set up a meeting with Safina in the last four.

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• Safina unimpressive in victory over mediocre field.
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