Pliskova puts Czechs level 2-2 with Russia in Fed Cup

Karolina Pliskova kept the Czech Republic's hopes of defending the Fed Cup title alive, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets to level the tie 2-2 in Sunday's final.

Pliskova, the world number 11, saw off 28th-ranked Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-4 at Prague's hardcourt O2 Arena after Maria Sharapova, the world number four, earlier came back from a set down to edge sixth-ranked Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Pliskova and Barbora Strycova will now play against Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina in the decisive doubles rubber.

The hard-hitting Pliskova, 23, took the first set with a single break, capitalising on aggressive play against defensive 24-year-old Pavlyuchenkova.
Both traded breaks in the opening games of set two and Pliskova then struck again in game nine to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

"It's definitely one of the biggest wins in my career," beamed Pliskova. "I was trying to focus on my serve and it was working today so I'm really happy for that."

In the day's opening rubber, a rampant Kvitova forced out two breaks in the first set, keeping Sharapova under constant pressure with daring returns.

"Petra played unbelievable in the first set, she was so aggressive, hitting really deep," said 28-year-old Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner.
Playing only her fifth Fed Cup tie, Sharapova regained momentum in an epic second set as the 25-year-old Kvitova seemed to lose concentration, giving away two breaks against one for Sharapova.

"I felt like I started getting my feet in the match because in the first set she was just playing too well and there was not much I could do," said Sharapova.

"The second set could go either way and unfortunately it didn't go mine," said Kvitova.

In the final set, Sharapova broke twice while Kvitova piled up errors.

"In the third set I just felt like I was the fresher one, like I could play another three hours, and that mentality really helped me," said Sharapova.

She waved aside her reputation of not being a team player, fuelled by news that she is staying at a different hotel than her teammates.

"The team supported me so well today, this is one of the few competitions where you're not just playing for yourself," she said.

"Personally it's an incredible achievement for me because I've never been in a Fed Cup final and I won two of my matches."
On Saturday, Sharapova won her first ever meeting with Pliskova 6-3, 6-4 to level 1-1 after Kvitova had come back from a set down to beat Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the opener.

The Czechs are seeking their fourth title in five years and ninth overall, including five as Czechoslovakia which went on to split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

Russia, who are 2-3 head-to-head with the Czechs -- including three ties between the former Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union -- have won four titles so far.
Source: AFP