Under-strength France reached their third Fed Cup final on Thursday when they took a 4-0 lead in the semi-final against Spain.

Nathalie Dechy gave the champions the winning third point by beating Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-1 at Moscow's Krylatskoye Indoor Arena.

Sixteen-year-old Tatiana Golovin, playing in her first Fed Cup tie, then eased past Marta Marrero 6-4, 6-4.

France have won the title both times they reached the final, in 1997 and 2003. The French beat Spain 4-1 on clay in the quarter-finals on their way to winning last year's title.

France, who are missing rested world number two Amelie Mauresmo and the injured Mary Pierce, will take on the winners of the second semi-final between favourites Russia and Austria. Russia led 2-0 overnight.

Dechy, the highest-ranked non-Russian player in the finals at number 21, broke Medina Garrigues in the sixth game to take the opening set before closing out the match in just over an hour.

"It was the best possible way for us to finish this tie," Dechy said. "We didn't have to spend a lot of time on the court by winning all the matches in two sets. Now we have to get ready for the final where most likely we will meet the Russians.

"They should be clear favourites as they have everything going for them this time. They have their best players, the home court, the fans -- but we'll be highly motivated to beat them."

The Russians, out to capture their first Fed Cup title, hold a commanding lead over Austria thanks to victories by French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and U.S. Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.