Ostend (Belgium): US Open champion Kim Clijsters crushed American teenager Vania King 6-0, 6-1 on Sunday to give Belgium an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the United States and a place in the Fed Cup final.
Clijsters never gave the 17-year old a glimmer of hope of an upset. The world No 2 won the opening set in 22 minutes at the sellout 5,500 Sea'rena indoor hall.
Clijsters defeated Jamea Jackson 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 late Saturday to give her team a 2-0 lead.
"We had an ideal start on Saturday and now I was able to finish it off," Clijsters said. And I played a lot better."
Belgium will play Italy at home in the September 16-17 final after the Italians beat Spain in the other semi-final in Zaragoza.
Sunday's last two matches in the best-of-five tie will have no impact on the final result.
It was the first time in five Fed Cup meetings that Belgium beat the US team.
Clijsters was the only top 50 player in the matchup after both teams were hit by injury and withdrawals.
King was added to the starting lineup early Sunday to replace Jill Craybas. The veteran felt ill after her loss Saturday to Kirsten Flipkens.
The US team had come to Belgium without the injured Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams. Venus Williams had also pulled out.
Belgium had to do without Justine Henin-Hardenne. The French Open champion dropped out, complaining of fatigue after losing to France's Amelie Mauresmo in the Wimbledon final last weekend.
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