Czech Republic won the Fed Cup for the fifth time in the past six years and their 10th overall title in this competition after Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strykova won the decisive doubles match over Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic by 7-5 7-5 after two hours and eight minutes at the Rhenus Sport Arena in Strasbourg. Led by Barbora Strykova and Karolina Pliskova, the Czech team came back from 1-2 down to clinch the final three rubber matches.
Pliskova and Strykova went up a set and a break in the fifth game of the second set before Mladenovic and Garcia bounced back by winning three consecutive games from 2-4 down in the second set. Strykova and Pliskova recovered by winning three consecutive games to clinch the win.
Caroline Garcia started the second day with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova. Barbora Strykova, who replaced injured Petra Kvitova at the last moment, beat Alizé Cornet 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to keep Czech hopes alive. Strykova became the Czech national heroine when she won the decisive double win over Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia by 7-5 7-5.
Pliskova and Strykova converted their break point chance in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Garcia and Mladenovic, who won the Roland Garros doubles title this year, broke straight back in the fourth game at deuce to draw level to 2-2. Garcia and Mladenovic were just two points away from winning the first set, when they reached deuce on return in the 10th game.
The first set went on serve until the 11th game when Pliskova and Strykova earned two break points as Mladenovic made a double fault. The Czech team converted their first chance as Mladenovic netted Pliskova’s return. Pliskova and Strykova won 10 out of 11 points in the final two games of the first set and closed out 7-5 with a love service game.
The Czech team struggled on serve in the early part of the second set, when they had to save four break points in their first two service games.
The second set went on serve until the fifth game when Mladenovic hit a volley into the net. Garcia and Mladenovic converted their second break-back chance in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4.
Mladenovic and Garcia saved three break points in the ninth game to take the 5-4 lead. Pliskova got the decisive break in the 11th game with a stunning backhand stop volley. The French team saved the first match point but Strykova clinched the win on the second opportunity with a forehand volley winner.
The Czech duo converted four of their 10 break point chances and saved six of the eight chances they faced.
Czech Republic has clinched the Fed Cup title in the decisive doubles match for the second consecutive year. They have remained unbeaten in this comeptition since the 2013 semifinal against Italy in Palermo. They have become the first team to win three consecutive titles since Spain’s hat-trick from 1993 to 1995.
“Our secret ? Just fighting on every point, fighting until the end. It was long day but we finished with a fairytale”, said Strykova.
Czech captain Petr Pala has become the most successful coach in Fed Cup history with five titles.
“Kvitova could not play today. We did not have many options, but Strykova played really well. The girls never gave up, like the French team, but there is only one winner. I am very proud. We were very proud, as it was very close until the end”, said Petr Pala.
