Four-time champions Russia became the first team to come back from 2-0 down in a Fed Cup semi-final to complete a 3-2 triumph over Slovakia on Sunday. Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina sealed the crucial point when they recovered from a set down to beat Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the deciding doubles rubber in two hours and 28 minutes. Russia maintained their perfect record against Slovakia, adding this weekend's victory to wins in their two previous Fed Cup meetings, in Bratislava in 1999 and then two years later in Moscow.

Russia's Ekaterina Makarova pulled Russia level at 2-2 with Slovakia in their Fed Cup semi-final battle on Sunday, beating Daniela Hantuchova in a tough three-setter here. Makarova won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours 29 minutes to record her first ever win over Hantuchova in three attempts. "Today I was in control in all three sets but failed to avoid mistakes and lost the second set," Makarova said. "But I was hoping to clinch my first win over Hantuchova and luckily, I managed to do it. And I still have enough power to play doubles."

Slovakia and Italy edged closer to a Fed Cup final showdown on Saturday after sweeping into 2-0 leads over fading Russia and defending champions Czech Republic respectively. Slovakia, whose only Fed Cup title came back in 2002, saw Dominika Cibulkova battle back from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in Moscow.

Slovakia, the 2002 Fed Cup winners, moved towards their first ever win over four-time champions Russia when they took a commanding 2-0 lead after the first day of their semi-final on Saturday. Daniela Hantuchova recorded Slovakia's second win beating Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-4, after Dominika Cibulkova had battled back from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. Russia went into the weekend boasting a perfect record against Slovakia having won both of their previous Fed Cup meetings in Bratislava in 1999 and two years later in Moscow.