Italy were handed their first Fed Cup title when Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne was forced to withdraw through injury in the deciding doubles match on Sunday.

The world number two had picked up a knee injury during her victory over Francesca Schiavone earlier in the day but took to the court for the doubles alongside Kirsten Flipkens.

However, with the sides on a set apiece and Italy two games up in the third, the pain proved too much for the French Open champion and she succumbed to defeat, allowing the Italians to win the final 3-2.

"This is really something special. We are so happy," Schiavone told reporters.

"I'm sorry for Justine but this sort of thing can always happen."

After the two teams had finished Saturday level at 1-1, victories for Henin-Hardenne and Mara Santangelo on Sunday sent the tie to the wire.

Sunday's action started with Henin-Hardenne beating Schiavone 6-4, 7-5 while Santangelo, playing in her first Fed Cup singles match, defeated Flipkens 6-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Schiavone and Roberta Vinci were just ahead 3-6, 6-2, 2-0 in the decisive doubles when Henin-Hardenne retired.

DOUBLE FAULTS

Henin-Hardenne, who reached all four Grand Slam finals this year, had been glad to get past Schiavone in two sets in a singles match littered with double faults and unforced errors after hurting her knee.

"I pulled up after the second point, my knee was in a lot of trouble," she said.

"I moved to the net a little more in the second set as I knew I couldn't go to a third set."

Belgium had been relying on Henin-Hardenne after world number four Kim Clijsters, who played in both of her country's victories en route to this year's final, was forced out of action for two months with a recurrence of a wrist injury.

Italy's victory was just reward for captain Corrado Barazzutti who gambled by giving Santangelo her first Fed Cup singles start in place of Flavia Pennetta, who had only just returned to action after missing the US Open with a wrist injury.

The gamble on the 33rd-ranked player however nearly backfired as the 98th-ranked Flipkens got off to the perfect start by taking the first set.

The 20 year-old's game fell apart in the second set and Santangelo pounced on her every mistake.

The Belgian had her serve broken twice in the second set before putting up some resistance but Santangelo held out to take the set. Flipkens never recovered and was whitewashed in the third set.

On Saturday, Henin-Hardenne beat Pennetta 6-4, 7-5, while Schiavone powered past Flipkens 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour.