Prague, Czech Republic (SportsNetwork.com) – Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova
won singles matches Saturday to give host Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over
Germany in the Fed Cup final.
Kvitova secured the first point of this best-of-five competition with a 6-2,
6-4 win over Andrea Petkovic on the indoor hardcourt at O2 Arena.
The Wimbledon champion converted five of seven break-point chances and
compiled a 25-7 edge in winners to improve to 22-6 in Fed Cup singles matches.
Petkovic had beaten Kvitova in their previous two meetings more than three
years ago and four of five overall, and she entered the final having won in
Bulgaria last Sunday for her third WTA title this season.
Safarova defeated Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 to move the Czechs to within one
win of a third Fed Cup title in four years.
Kvitova will take on Kerber in the first reverse single on Sunday before
Safarova battles Petkovic. The doubles rubber is scheduled to pit the Czech
tandem of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka against the German duo of
Sabine Lisicki and Julia Goerges.
The Germans need to stage a dramatic comeback to claim the crown for the first
time since 1992.
