APRIL 20 : Germany and Czech Republic will clash in the2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group final in Czech Republic on November 8 and 9. In semi-final matches played today, Czech Republic defeated holders Italy 4-0 in Ostrava and Germany beat Australia in Brisbane with a 3-1 margin.
In Ostrava, Petra Kvitova placed Czech Republic in an unbeatable position after defeating Italian Sara Errani 6-3 7-5 to give her team an unassaibale 3-0 lead. Andrea Hlavackova/Klara Koukalova (CZE) defeated Camila Giorgi/Karin Knapp (ITA) 62 57 [11-9]. in the doubles while the match between Lucie Safarova (CZE) and Camila Giorgi (ITA) was not played.
In Brisbane, Angelique Kerber of Germany overcame Australian Samantha Stosur in three setters 4-6 6-0 6-4 which lasted 125 minutes. With this win, Germany gained in an unassailable 3-0 lead. Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua of Australia beat Julia Goerges/Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Germany) 62 67(5) [10-2] in the doubles while the match between Casey Dellacqua (Australia) and Andrea Petkovic (Germany) was not played.
Germany returned to the final after a gap of 22 years.
In World Group Play-Off matches, France prevailed over USA by 3-2 in St Louis. In other matches, Russia beat Argentina by 4-0 at Sochi; Canada got the better of Slovak Republic 3-1 in Quebec and Poland edged out Spain by 3-2 in Barcelona.
According to International Tennis Federation, Czech Republic will host Germany in the Fed Cup Final on November 8 and 9.
Canada, France, Poland and Russia all won their World Group play-off ties and will join Australia, Czech Republic, Germany and Italy in the 2015 World Group.
Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland all won their World Group II play-off ties, and will join the four World Group play-off losing nations, Argentina, Slovak Republic, Spain and USA, in 2015 World Group II.
The draw for the 2015 Fed Cup will be held at Roland Garros, Paris on Wednesday 4 June 4.
Results:
WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS
Czech Republic beat Italy 4-1 in Ostrava (Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 64 61, Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Camila Giorgi (ITA) 64 62, Petra Kvitova (CZE) d Sara Errani (ITA) 63 75, Lucie Safarova (CZE) v Camila Giorgi (ITA) – match not played, Andrea Hlavackova/Klara Koukalova (CZE) d. Camila Giorgi/Karin Knapp (ITA) 62 57 [11-9].
Germany beat Australia 3-1 in Brisbane (Andrea Petkovic (GER) d. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 61 76(7), Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 61 60, Angelique Kerber (GER) d Samantha Stosur (AUS) 46 60 64, Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Andrea Petkovic (GER) – match not played, Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS) d. Julia Goerges/Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 62 67(5) [10-2].
WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS
Russia bt Argentina 4-0 at Sochi (Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Paula Ormaechea (ARG) 63 63, Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Maria Irigoyen (ARG) 75 61, Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Paula Ormaechea (ARG) 61 62, Elena Vesnina (RUS) v Maria Irigoyen (ARG) – match not played, Valeria Solovyeva/Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Victoria Bosio/Nadia Podoroska (ARG) 62 61.
Canada bt Slovak Republic 3-1 at Quebec (Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Jana Cepelova (SVK) 46 75 75, Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) d. Kristina Kucova (SVK) 76(0) 26 61, Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) d. Jana Cepelova (SVK) 76(6) 63, Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v Kristina Kucova (SVK) – match not played, Janette Husarova/Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) d. Gabriela Dabrowski/Sharon Fichman (CAN) 64 57 [11-9].
France bt USA 3-2 at St Louis (Caroline Garcia (FRA) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) 63 62, Madison Keys (USA) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) 67(4) 76(4) 63, Sloane Stephens (USA) d. Virginie Razzano (FRA) 62 64, Caroline Garcia (FRA) d. Madison Keys (USA) 64 63, Caroline Garcia/Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Madison Keys/Sloane Stephens (USA) 62 75).
Poland bt Spain 3-2 at Barcelona (Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 62 62, Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 46 60 61, Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) 63 62, Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 61 63, Agnieszka Radwanska/Alicja Rosolska (POL) d. Anabel Medina Garrigues/Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 64 62).
WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS
Romania bt Serbia 4-1 in Bucharest (Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 36 61 62, Simona Halep (ROU) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 62 64, Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Simona Halep (ROU) 63 76(2), Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 63 67(7) 63, Irina-Camelia Begu/Monica Niculescu (ROU) d. Jovana Jaksic/Nina Stojanovic (SRB) 1-0 ret.).
Netherlands bt Japan 3-2 at Hertogenbosch, NED (Kurumi Nara (JPN) d. Arantxa Rus (NED) 75 26 61, Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 60 76(3), Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Kurumi Nara (JPN) 76(5) 46 97, Arantxa Rus (NED) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 75 63, Shuko Aoyama/Risa Ozaki (JPN) d. Richel Hogenkamp/Michaella Krajicek (NED) 16 63 [10-8].
Sweden bt Thailand 4-0 in Lidkoping, SWE (Johanna Larsson (SWE) d. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) 61 63, Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 64 62, Johanna Larsson (SWE) d. Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 64 62, Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) v Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) – match not played, Hilda Melander/Rebecca Peterson (SWE) d. Tamarine Tanasugarn/Varatchaya Wongteanchai (THA) 64 62).
Switzerland bt Brazil 4-1 at Catanduva, BRA (Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. Teliana Pereira (BRA) 63 63, Belinda Bencic (SUI) d. Paula Cristina Goncalves (BRA) 63 63,Teliana Pereira (BRA) d. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 63 64, Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. Paula Cristina Goncalves (BRA) 75 62, Belinda Bencic/Viktorija Golubic (SUI) d. Gabriela Ce/Laura Pigossi (BRA) 62 62).