Clijsters gives Belgium Fed Cup semi victory over US

OSTEND, Belgium, July 16 (Reuters) Kim Clijsters ensured Belgium's passage to the final of the Fed Cup with a 6-0 6-1 victory over American teenager Vania King today.

Belgium took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best of five match semi-final to give them their first Fed Cup victory over the United States in five attempts.

Clijsters, the world number two and US Open champion, crushed her 17-year-old opponent, ranked 79th in the world, with an exhibition of powerful groundstrokes and serves. The match lasted just 55 minutes.

Belgium will play Italy in the final on September 16-17. Italy beat Spain in the other Fed Cup semi-final.

Reuters DH PC2110