USA reached the play-offs for promotion to the Fed Cup
World Group after beating Belarus in Massachusetts.
Leading 2-0 overnight after wins for Christina McHale and Serena Williams,
they secured victory when Williams beat Anastasia Yakimova 5-7 6-1 6-1.
Belarus, missing Victoria Azarenka due to injury, could now face Great
Britain in April's World Group II play-offs.
Elsewhere in the World Group II, Japan beat Slovenia, Slovakia overcame
France and Australia defeated Switzerland.
With Azarenka still troubled by a lower back injury it was a formidable task
for Yakimova, 65th in the current world rankings, against Williams, the winner
of 13 Grand Slams, undefeated in eight Fed Cup matches, and still 12th in the
rankings despite recent absences through injury.
But, after conceding an early break, Yakimova recovered to take a gruelling
first set in 68 minutes.
After squandering seven break point opportunities in the opener, Williams
took both of the chances she had in the second set, racing through it in 29
minutes.
The deciding set followed a similar pattern, Williams underlining her
superiority to take it in 32 minutes to complete victory in two hours nine
minutes.
In the elite World Group, Serbia won the deciding doubles to beat Belgium
3-2.
Their semi-final opponents on 21-22 April will be Russia, who beat Spain
3-2.
The Czech Republic beat Germany 4-1 and will play Italy in the other
semi-final, after they won the deciding doubles to beat Ukraine 3-2.
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