Russia, France in Fed Cup final

The Russians, out to capture their first Fed Cup title and spearheaded by French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and U.S. Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, steamrollered Austria.

Earlier defending champions France, without the help of world number two Amelie Mauresmo and the injured Mary Pierce, reached their third final by whitewashing Spain in the other semi-final.

An out-of-sorts Myskina recovered from a horrendous first set to give the home side an unbeatable 3-0 lead by defeating Yvonne Meusburger 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

After a fast start the temperamental Russian surrendered six straight games to the 173rd-ranked Austrian to lose the opener in 38 minutes.

With her thoughts seemingly elsewhere, Myskina had trouble finding her range early on but got her nerves under control mid-way through the second set before winning in one hour 39 minutes.

"She surprised me by playing a very slow, patient game," said the world number three, who committed 52 unforced errors and hit only 29 winners.

"Finally, I was able to wake up in the second set."

RUSSIA'S CENTURY

U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova crushed 362nd-ranked Daniela Kix, who replaced Austrian number two Patricia Wartusch for the dead fourth rubber, 6-1, 6-1 in 39 minutes to give Russia a 4-0 lead.

After a short rest, Kuznetsova teamed up with Elena Likhovtseva and they beat Meusburger and Wartusch 6-2, 6-2 in doubles to complete the 5-0

It was Russia's 100th Fed Cup tie since they made their debut in the competition as the Soviet Union in 1968. They have won 70 of them.

Nathalie Dechy, the highest-ranked non-Russian player in the finals at number 21, sealed the winning third point for France by beating Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-1.

Sixteen-year-old Tatiana Golovin, playing in her first Fed Cup tie, then eased past Marta Marrero, who replaced Maria Sanchez Lorenzo for the dead fourth rubber, winning 6-3 6-4.

France have won the title both times they reached the final, in 1997 and 2003. They beat Spain 4-1 on clay in the quarter-finals on their way to winning last year's title.

CLEAR FAVOURITES

"We didn't have to spend a lot of time on the court by winning all the matches in two sets. Now we have to get ready for the final," said Dechy.

"They should be clear favourites as they have everything going for them this time. They have their best players, the home court, the fans -- but we'll be highly motivated to beat them."

Moscow-born Golovin said she was looking forward to challenging the Russians.

"I think I have the game for it," said the French teenager, who left Russia when she was eight months old.

"It's just a matter of how confident I am. I still have a lot of things to work on but I think it's all mental.

"But it's going to be tough, especially as I just came back from vacation."