RCS Academy's Melanie Oudin sealed the United States' passage to the semi-finals of the Fed Cup on Sunday with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win over Julie Coin to establish an unassailable 3-0 lead over hosts France.

Melanie had beaten Pauline Parmentier in straight sets in Saturday's second singles rubber after 140th-ranked Bethanie Mattek-Sands had started the ball rolling with a 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 win over Alize Cornet.

That loss being Cornet's sixth loss in as many Fed Cup starts, team captain Nicolas Escude withdrew her from the firing line and sent in Coin.

But she was unable to prevent Oudin, taking her tournament record to 3-3, sealing the decisive point which takes the USA through to the semi-finals as they hone in on an 18th title.

In the semis, they will play either Serbia or Russia.

Oudin defeated Coin 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in just over two hours in the first reverse singles match.

The U.S. will next face either Russia or Serbia on April 24-25.

The 18-year-old Oudin broke Coin in the fifth game of the second set and clinched the match when the Frenchwoman shanked a forehand.

Oudin had saved two break points at 5-5 in the first to force the tiebreaker, where she hit three straight winners to close out the set.

Alize Cornet had been scheduled to face Oudin but France captain Nicolas Escude decided to replace her with Coin after Cornet acknowledged she struggled with her nerves against Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the opening singles Saturday. Mattek-Sands rallied from 5-2 down in the first to win in straight sets, giving Cornet her sixth loss in six Fed Cup singles matches.

Both teams were missing their best players. Serena and Venus Williams skipped the event, while France played without Marion Bartoli, Aravane Rezai and Virginie Razzano.

The U.S. improved its record against France to 11-1 in Fed Cup play.

Melanie Oudin of RCS Academy will be leading the US charge against France in the opening round of the Fed Cup to be held February 6-7 in Paris.  

 Melanie who is ranked 48th in the latest WTA rankings will be joined by Perry, of Coral Springs, Fla., ranked 107th; and Mattek-Sands, of Phoenix, ranked 154th. Melanie was part of the U.S. team that lost to Italy in the 2009 Fed Cup final.

Mattek-Sands is expected to pair with Huber in doubles. It's not known whether Perry or Mattek-Sands would join 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie in playing singles against France.

The French team announced Wednesday is missing No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 20 Virginie Razzano and No. 23 Aravane Rezai. The hosts will have Alize Cornet, Julie Coin, Stephanie Cohen-Aloro and Pauline Parmentier. Cornet has the best current ranking, at No. 51.

RCS's Alex Anghelescu was honored by the USTA Southern Section, along with her team mates, for winning the G18s Fed Cup this summer in California.  The Southern Section won the trophy after a draught of 12 years.