Lisa Raymond powered the United States into the Fed Cup final as she trounced Belgium's Elke Clijsters 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday to give her team an unassailable 3-1 lead in their semi-final.

The Americans will next face the winners of the second semi-final between hosts Russia and France, who were level at 1-1 after the first day.

Within minutes of her victory, Raymond was back on court in partnership with Martina Navratilova, the American pair crushing Clijsters and Caroline Maes 6-1, 6-4 in the dead doubles rubber to complete a 4-1 victory.

In Wednesday's opening match, Els Callens beat Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 7-6 to bring the Belgians, who are missing their top two players, world numbers one and two Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, back into the tie.

But Clijsters's younger sister Elke, a late replacement for 17-year-old Kirsten Flipkens, could do nothing to stop in-form Raymond.

The 30-year-old American, known more for her doubles prowess, produced another impressive display of power tennis following her 6-2, 6-1 demolition of Callens on Wednesday.

Raymond, who had little trouble on her own serve, broke 18-year-old Clijsters twice in each set before closing out the match in just 47 minutes.

AMAZING MARTINA

"I haven't played a singles match since 1999, so it felt really good to play two solid matches here," said Raymond before praising her partner Navratilova, who improved her win-loss record in Fed Cup to 38-0 with Thursday's victory.

"It's pretty amazing to be on a court with her," she said.

"It's one thing to represent your country, but to do it with Martina is something else."

Navratilova, who at 47 played her first Fed Cup match since 1995 to become the oldest player in the competition's 40-year history, has another unique record.

Navratilova, who won her first Fed Cup title with Czechoslovakia in 1975, has never played on a losing team.

"Yes, it's true, I have never lost in singles or doubles and in the old days we only played three matches instead of five," she said. "So by winning both of my matches, singles and doubles, I would guarantee my team of a win."

Earlier, Callens rebounded with a solid effort against Shaughnessy, the world number 17.

The Belgian earned the only break in the second game to take the first set 6-3 before securing victory at her first opportunity, winning the tiebreak 7-5.

Shaughnessy said she felt fatigue following her epic three-set win over Flipkens on Wednesday.

"I definitely was a bit tired today, but Els played a good match and deserved her victory," she said.

"But we have a day off tomorrow and I think we'll be ready for whoever we play in the final and we feel confident to bring the cup home."

The Americans, also missing several of their top players, have won the Fed Cup 17 times, more than any other nation.

Earlier report