Pliskova, Strycova take Czechs to Fed Cup semis

Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova led defending champions the Czech Republic into the Fed Cup semifinals after winning their rubbers on Sunday for an unbeatable 3-1 lead against Spain.
In a clash of the teams’ number-one players, world No. 3 Pliskova overcame seventh-ranked French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-2 in an hour.
Then Strycova, ranked 17th, beat 70th-ranked Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 6-4 in almost two hours.
Seeking a fourth straight Fed Cup title, and sixth from the last seven editions, the Czechs will face either Germany or the United States in the semifinals on April 22-23.
The United States led 1-0 after Saturday’s only rubber in a tie marred by rain and a blunder involving the performance of Germany’s World War II anthem at the official start.
On the hardcourt in the eastern Czech steel hub of Ostrava, the fast-serving, aggressive 24-year-old Pliskova gave the struggling Muguruza no chance.
The 23-year-old Spaniard snatched a single break late in the second set, but that was all she had to offer while Pliskova broke her serve almost at will, leaning on solid returns.
“My fast play worked well today and... I think I served very well throughout the match,” Pliskova told the public Czech TV after winning her fifth straight rubber against Muguruza.
“I guess this was one of the easiest matches we’ve played,” she said.
The 30-year-old Strycova had more work to do against Arruabarrena.
They traded breaks halfway through the first set before Strycova broke once again and held on to her serve in a marathon 12-minute game eight to finally take the set 6-4.
“That game was crucial, I got a boost when I won it and then I played quite well and moved well too,” said Strycova.
Almost flawless at the net, Strycova showed her dominance over the 24-year-old Spaniard in set two, stepping up her game for a 6-4 win.
On Saturday, Muguruza beat Strycova 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 before Pliskova levelled the tie after seeing off Arruabarrena 6-4, 7-5.
The Czechs missed two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, injured in a fight with a knife-wielding burglar last December.
“Of course we played each game for Petra, we miss her a lot, but we know she’s strong and she’ll be back with us,” said Strycova.
Belarus completes surprise win over Netherlands 
With or without Victoria Azarenka, Belarus can still succeed on the tennis court.
The former top-ranked player is taking time out with her baby son, but Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Aryna Sabalenka stepped up Sunday to beat the Netherlands 4-1 in the Fed Cup quarterfinals. Sasnovich is ranked 104 places below Dutch world No. 24 Kiki Bertens, but didn’t let it show as she broke Bertens’ serve seven times in a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Next up was 18-year-old Sabalenka, who dug deep to beat veteran Michaelle Krajicek 7-6 (5), 6-4 and put Belarus in the Fed Cup semifinals for the first time with an insurmountable 3-1 lead.
Belarus finished off a strong weekend in the remaining dead-rubber doubles match when Olga Govortsova and Vera Lapko won 6-4, 6-2 against the Dutch duo of Cindy Burger and Arantxa Rus.

Source: Arab News