World number 85 Sorana Cirstea has announced her retirement from Fed Cup after competing in the competition for 12 years.

The Romanian first made her debut when she was just 16 years old when she competed against Sweden in Zone Group I Europe/Africa.

Since then Cirstea has won 16 of her 29 Fed Cup rubbers but has now announced that it is time to move on and wishes the team the best of luck for the future.

“I feel like I have done my duty. And now is the time to pass the relay baton onto the new generation,” Cirstea said on her Facebook page.

“I would like to thank my teammates, the Federation, the captains, the coaches and everyone who was involved in our success, and especially the Romanian crowd that has been supporting me over the years.”

The 28 year-old will look to now improve her ranking after a disappointing 2018 season which included a 17-25 win-loss record.

WTA Starts Prepare For 2019

Meanwhile other WTA players have been preparing for the new season, which officially begins in 16 days. Here is some of the best action from the off-season so far:

Caroline Wozniacki 

The Dane decided to use her off-season to improve her tennis with a certain 23 time grand slam champion:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrGQjLaAkZN/

Aryna Sabalenka

The Belarusian rising star had an amazing 2018 season and is using unique training methods to improve further next season:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrR8iX4jumH/

Garbine Muguruza

Despite an underwhelming 2018 season, the Spaniard has been practicing in California to get ready for the 2019 season:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrRSeoClwvx/

Julia Goerges

Practice is perfect in Julia Goerges’ case as she looks to expand on her Wimbledon semi-final:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrC8jJnBO_w/

Naomi Osaka

The US Open champion is getting ready for the new season in Los Angeles as she looks to gain even more fans in 2019:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq-7699gldE/

Katerina Siniakova secured the decivive 3-0 point to earn Czech Republic its 11th Fed Cup title and its 6th triumph in the past eight seasons at this event since 2011. Siniakova had to save two match point at 4-5 in the third set to beat US Sofia Kenin 7-5 5-7 7-5 in the third singles match to the delight of the enthusiastic Czech fans, who packed the O2 Arena in Prague.

Siniakova scored her second singles win this weekend after beating Alison Riske on Saturday.

Siniakova converted her first break chance and went up a double break early in the first set. Kenin got back on serve at 1-2 in a 10-minute game before breaking again in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Sinakova bounced back by breaking serve once more. Kenin converted on her break point at deuce at 3-5 down before drawing level to 5-5. Siniakova reeled off five consecutive games to build up a 7-5 3-0 lead, but Kenin came back from 15-40 down to win her first game of the second set. The US teenager broke twice in a row in the fifth and seventh games. Siniakova pulled the break back for 4-5 with a series of backhand winners. Kerer broke again at love in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead before sealing the second set on the fourth set point.

Siniakova saved three break points in the first game of the decider before breaking serve on her second chance. The Czech player consolidated the break with a hold to build up a 3-0 lead.

Siniakova fended off four break points to hold serve for 4-1 in a 19-minute marathon fifth game. Kenin fought back by winning four consecutive games thanks to two consecutive breaks in the seventh and ninth games to take a 5-4 lead, but she fired the ball beyond the baseline twice from 40-15 and failed to convert her two match points. Siniakova reeled off six points in a row from 0-40 down at 5-5. Siniakova got the final break of the match in the 12th game to seal a thrilling win after 3 hours and 44 minutes, when Kenin sent her forehand into the tramlines. The Czech team celebrated the fourth of their six titles since 2011 at the O2 Arena in Prague.

Siniakova scored the third win in four singles Fed Cup rubbers. She hit 4 aces and won 56 percent of her first serve points. Kenin hit 42 winners but she made 76 unforced errors.

Czech Republic ended a 8-match losing streak against the USA at Fed Cup level.

Petr Pala has won his sixth title as captain of the Czech Fed Cup team. He boasts an impressive 24-4 win-loss record in the 28 Fed Cup matches where he took charge of the Czech team.

The US team captained by Kathy Rinaldi did not defend their title won in 2017, but they featured a young team with three players Danielle Collins, Sofia Kenin and Nicole Melichar, who made their debut at this event this weekend.

After day one of the Fed Cup final, Barbora Strycova and Katerina Siniakova have given the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over USA in Prague. 

An emotional Barbora Strycova defeated Sofia Kenin 6-7(5) 6-1 6-4 in 2 hours and 43 minutes to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

While Siniakova consolidated the lead with a straight sets win over a tough Alison Riske, who was also very emotional during the opening ceremony.

The Americans are without a top 30 player this week as the Czechs managed without Petra Kvitova for today’s action. Katerina Siniakova can seal the Fed Cup for the Czech Republic with a win over Alison Riske.

The final started with Strycova and Riske barely being able to control their emotions as the Czech Republican knew that this would be her final Fed Cup tie.

The dramatic Czech was up against world number 52, Sofia Kenin who was making her Fed Cup debut. It was a nervy first set from Strycova, who struggled to neutralise Kenin’s power on serve.

Two breaks were given away as Kenin forced a tight first set tiebreak in what was a fired-up O2 Arena in Prague. The American took her second set point to take the first set.

Emotions were more controlled in the second set as Strycova’s spin caused Kenin trouble and made her more confident as a result.

Two breaks of serve was enough as the world number 33 took the first rubber to a deciding set, which saw Petra Kvitova and her fellow Czech Republicans ecstatic.

Despite Kenin pulling back a 4-1 deficit and reducing the set to a single break, it wasn’t enough as a picture-perfect volley gave Strycova the victory and with it the first rubber.

A win in her last-ever #FedCup tie!@BaraStrycova defeats Sofia Kenin 67(5) 61 64 in two hours 43 minutes to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in Prague. #FedCupFinal 🇨🇿1️⃣🆚0️⃣🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jGm3CpLjlb

— Fed Cup (@FedCup) November 10, 2018

After the match Strycova explained why she was so emotional, “It’s funny because it’s her first tie and my last one,” she announced.

“For me it was a lot of emotions. I fought for every ball, and I’m so happy I could win today in front of this crowd – it means a lot to me.”

The veteran’s hard work was consolidated in the second rubber as Katerina Siniakova powered past Alison Riske 6-3 7-6(2) to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

A medium-fast hardy would’ve given the American the advantage but that wasn’t the case as Siniakova proved too good from the back of the court.

The win means Czech Republic are a rubber away from winning their sixth Fed Cup title and their fourth in five years. They would also seal their first win over USA in 33 years.

The question is now will it be Katerina Siniakova or Petra Kvitova that gets the honour of sealing the Fed Cup for the Czech Republic?