Schiavone, who beat Amelie Mauresmo on Saturday, rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to defeat Tatiana Golovin 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 Sunday in the last singles match. Then she teamed with Roberta Vinci to defeat Nathalie Dechy and Severine Bremond 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in doubles.

Italy will defend its title against Russia or the United States in September.

Schiavone has had a disappointing season with her singles ranking falling to No. 31 from No. 15.

"Schiavone is a gladiator," Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti said. "She's really proud to wear the jersey."

Schiavone and Vinci jumped out to a 3-0 lead to open the doubles match but then lost control. After her singles match lasted 2 hours, 44 minutes, Schiavone appeared tired.

She played better in the second set, though, and Vinci began picking off volleys to draw Italy even. Bremond, the lowest-ranked player on the court at No. 63 in singles and 87th in doubles, proved to be the French team's weak link, struggling to return serves.

Italy broke Bremond's and Dechy's serves in succession to take a 5-2 lead in the third and then Schiavone served the series out.

The Italian duo has now won all three Fed Cup doubles matches they have played together.

Earlier, against Golovin, Schiavone broke at love when the Frenchwoman served for the series at 5-3 in the third set.

In Sunday's first singles match, Mauresmo rallied through oppressive heat to beat Mara Santangelo 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-4.

Santangelo was playing in place of Tathiana Garbin, who aggravated a right foot injury during her opening loss to Golovin on Saturday.

At midday, the court temperature in Castellaneta, near the southern city of Taranto, was 111 degrees. Players were allowed a 10-minute heat break before the start of the third set during both singles matches.