Kvitova seals Czech Fed Cup triumph

PetraKvitova

Kvitova and Lucie Safarova had put the hosts in total command by winning Saturday's two rubbers and the Wimbledon champion finished off the job with a 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 victory over Kerber.

Germany had to win all three games on Sunday to lift the title, something that no side has ever done in the history of the competition, but that looked a tall order and so it proved as their wait for a first Fed Cup title since 1992 goes on.

Kvitova's straight-sets victory over Andrea Petkovic had put the Czechs in front on Saturday and she had to dig deep to see off Kerber with the backing of a partisan crowd.

The 24-year-old's win sparked jubilant scenes from the Czech team and coaches, as Kerber was consoled by the Germany team following a gutsy performance.

Kvitova sent  down six of her 12 aces in the first set, in which she had to fight back to take the upper hand after Kerber had broken twice to surge into a 5-2 lead.

Kerber was unable to take a set point when she led 5-3 and another which would have sealed a 6-4 first-set victory, as Kvitova hung in there and forced a tie-break after the German had incredibly failed to win another three set points in a marathon 12th game.

She was made to pay for those missed opportunities as Kvitova claimed two mini-breaks to Kerber's one to complete a dramatic turnaround.

Kerber then showed plenty of character to fight back from 3-0 down in the second set, winning six of the next seven games to keep the Czechs' champagne on ice.

An expectant crowd looked set to have to wait for their victory when a determined Kerber led 3-0 in the decider, but Kvitova was not to be denied as she claimed two breaks of her own and held her nerve to take her fourth match point to start the party in Prague.

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