PRAGUE: The Czech Republic advanced to their third Fed Cup finals in four years after beating defending champions Italy 4-0 in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava yesterday.
Petra Kvitova, the world number six and a former Wimbledon champion, first saw off 20th-ranked Roberta Vinci 6-3, 7-5 in an hour-and-a-half to hand the Czechs an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Klara Koukalova and Andrea Hlavackova then earned the fourth point for the hosts after beating Camila Giorgi and Karin Knapp 6-2, 5-7, 11/9 in a dead doubles rubber on the hard court of Ostrava’s CEZ Arena.
The Czechs, who lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2012, will host Germany in the Fed Cup final on November 8-9.
“I’m happy we’ve made it and it will be a pleasure for the whole country to host the finals again,” said Kvitova, praising her fellow players on “a superb team”.
In the first set yesterday, Kvitova took advantage of Vinci’s two straight double faults to take a 5-3 lead before winning 6-3.
In the second set, the fast-serving Czech broke Vinci’s serve to take a 4-3 lead but failed to confirm the break in the next game.
But Kvitova did the same thing for a 6-5 lead and converted her second match point to take the set 7-5.
“The tactic was quite difficult, her chops are quite unpleasant on the hardcourt so I had to move my feet fast and play returns to her forehand side,” Kvitova said.
“I have recently improved my movement so now it’s more pleasant to play longer exchanges.”
“And I have also improved my serve, which is a mental advantage,” Kvitova said.
On Saturday, Lucie Safarova first beat Italy’s number-one player Sara Errani 6-4, 6-1 and Kvitova then breezed past Giorgi 6-4, 6-2.
The Czech Republic and Italy have been taking turns as Fed Cup champions for the last five years, with Italy lifting the trophy in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
Meanwhile, Angelique Kerber put Germany into their first Fed Cup final in 22 years with a fighting victory over Australia’s Samantha Stosur in the semi-final in Brisbane yesterday.
World number seven Kerber fought back from dropping the opening set to beat former US Open champion Stosur 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in two hours 14 minutes to give Germany an unassailable 3-0 lead over Australia.
The Australian pair of Casey Dellacqua and Ashleigh Barty prevented a wipe-out when they claimed the “dead” doubles rubber 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 10-2 over Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld for the tie to finish 3-1.
Germany will play either the Czech Republic or Italy in the final.
Left-hander Kerber showed great resilience to bounce back in the pivotal singles rubber, fighting off the 19th-ranked Stosur to take victory and put Germany into this year’s final.
Germany last won the competition in 1992 when Steffi Graf and Anke Huber starred in the team which defeated Spain.
The Germans took a firm grip on the semi-final, winning Saturday’s opening two singles rubbers in the best-of-five match tie.
“It’s a very special moment for me and the whole team,” Kerber said.
“It feels great. I played a good match but it was a tough one because Sam was playing also very tough and I have never beaten her before.AGENCIES
