Czech Republic wins third Fed Cup title in four years

Led by @Petra_Kvitova, Czechs sweep #FedCup final vs. Germany 3-0. Third title in four years: http://t.co/hABQBw5Hdc pic.twitter.com/pv96ndOlyR
— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) November 9, 2014

No team has ever lost the first two rubbers of a Fed Cup final and come back to win the title. That was the job facing Germany today in Prague, and Angelique Kerber gave her all, but in the end, a tired, hurting Petra Kvitova found a way to defeat Kerber 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
 

"It's for your country," said Kvitova after the match, "but always when you are not feeling great and you don't have enough energy, you always find something and I'm not sure where I found it. I am just glad that I found it."

The three-hour match was a course in "Kvitology," so to speak. The Czech star relentlessly bombarded the court with an equal number of winners and unforced errors--dozens of them. Kerber led 5-2 in the first set, but Kvitova brought the set to a tiebreak. The German went down 0-3 in the second set, but then quickly won a succession of games. She was also down 1-4 in the third, but then made that set as competitive as the other two had been.

It was a match full of twists and turns, and most of them appeared to be related to the very high stress of the occasion. Kvitova was playing for the championship; Kerber was playing to keep Germany in the contest. Both players are known for being somewhat mercurial. Kvitova, however, has become the Flavia Penneetta of the Czech team; actually, Lucie Safarova has become the other Flavia Pennetta--these two bring their very best effort to Fed Cup competition.

Later in the day, the dead doubles rubber was played, and the German team won it in straight sets.

The Czech Republic won Fed Cup in 2011 and 2012; Italy won in 2013.

Petra Kvitova wins a thriller to deliver Czech Republic its 3rd Fed Cup title in four years. http://t.co/IcWWk69z7b pic.twitter.com/eT5Cggdk5Q
— SI Tennis  (@SI_Tennis) November 9, 2014