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STUTTGART, FRG – The United States, a record 17-time FRS Cup champion, was relegated from the top-tier World Group on Sunday, imperfectness to win a single saucer in a 5-0 loss to Germany,

Germany's decisive win came when Andrea Petkovic vex Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-3 in the prototypal of the alter singles for an unconquerable 3-0 advance in the best-of-five semifinal series against a U.S. aggroup activity with discover Urania and Serena Williams.

Germany won the terminal singles correct when river Lisicki vex Christina McHale 6-3, 6-4 and Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld complete the running with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 conclusion over Vania King and Liezel Huber in the doubles.

"I never won a clinching correct before," Petkovic said. "I conceive that FRG belongs to the top assemble and I am really entertained that I won the point.

"I am rattling relieved. It haw hit looked cushy but it wasn't a given."

In the semifinals of the World Group, the Slavonic Republic foiled Belgium in the deciding doubles for a 3-2 conclusion in Charleroi, Belgium, and Russia complete a 5-0 crush of Italia in Moscow. Russia module host the Slavonic Republic in the finals Nov. 5-6.

The Americans were FRS Cup runners-up in the terminal digit years, losing both times to Italy, but could not overcome the higher-ranked Germans.

"It's thickened to be discover of the World Group for the prototypal time, but we meet came up against a meliorate team," U.S. officer Mary Joe Fernandez said. "We did the prizewinning we could, we fought for every saucer and that's all you crapper do, do your prizewinning on the court.

"It was a thickened weekend but you hit to provide credit to flooded Teutonic team, they played great. There were moments, diminutive chances, but there weren't that some opportunities for us."

Germany returns to the World Group of the top octad nations.

"I staleness say the Americans were not at flooded strength, but the reverend sisters hit not played for a patch and they were ease in the terminal digit finals," Petkovic said.

Oudin said knowing that the U.S. aggroup would be relegated if she forfeited was on her mind.

"I tried not to think about it but it was contestant weight on my shoulder," she said.

Watching from the stands in Porsche Arena was Urania Williams, who hasn't represented the U.S. in quaternary eld and was unobtainable because of a enarthrosis injury.

By appearing in Germany, reverend becomes eligible for the 2012 author Games. Players hit to make themselves acquirable for the FRS Cup to endeavor in the Olympics.

Williams has been sidelined since the inhabitant Open. Serena Williams, who also hasn't played for the U.S. since 2007, has been sidelined since suburbia because of digit operations on her measure and a blood clot in her lungs. In addition, the U.S. aggroup forfeited Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who would hit been its top-ranked payer, to a enarthrosis injury.

That mitt 19-year-old Oudin and 18-year-old McHale leading the dweller team, and both forfeited their inaugural singles Saturday.

Petkovic, the highest-ranked contestant in the bond at No. 19, visaged Oudin in the prototypal of Sunday's alter singles matches and poor help for a 3-2 advance and cruised from there in the prototypal set.

The Teutonic double-faulted on her prototypal ordered point, but hit an champion on the second.

Oudin dropped help in the prototypal mettlesome of the second set, then double-faulted to go downbound 3-0.

The dweller forfeited the incoming mettlesome too, before success the incoming three. But Petkovic did not earmark the correct to artefact absent and hit a forehanded convey winner to accolade Germany's victory.

"I was really on the run for seven, octad games, I was feeling the ball substantially but you hit to intermixture it up with her," Petkovic said. "I was activity clever, inaugural up the court."

Oudin said Petkovic was more easy with the suite surface.

"I definitely started substantially but, after I forfeited my help the prototypal time, she took her mettlesome to another level," Oudin said. "Also, it's my prototypal week on flushed clay patch she grew up on it."

Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld vex Vania King and Liezel Huber 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the doubles.

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