Czech Republic claim fourth Fed Cup title in five years after winning dramatic decider against Russia
- Maria Sharapova put Russia 2-1 up by beating Petra Kvitova in the singles
- Karolina Pliskova levelled tie after defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
- Pliskova and Barbora Strycova won the decisive doubles to claim title
The Czech Republic successfully defended their Fed Cup title after a marathon, nail-biting final match in Prague on Sunday.
Maria Sharapova put Russia 2-1 up with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova in the day's opening encounter but Karolina Pliskova ensured the final would be decided by the doubles after a 6-3 6-4 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina won the first set to put Russia in the driving seat but Pliskova and Barbora Strycova fought back for the hosts to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and nine minutes for a fourth Czech win in five years.
Petra Kvitova lifts the Fed Cup trophy after Czech Republic beat Russia in Prague on Sunday
It was the first time since 2011, when the Czechs defeated Russia in Moscow, the final had gone down to the last match.
Strycova admits home advantage played a significant part when they fell behind in the winner-takes-all decider.
'I was believing we could still do it and we did it at the end but this crowd was unbelievable. They pushed us forward,' she said.
Czech Republic celebrate winning the Feed Cup for the fourth time in five years after beating Russia
Pliskova has kept her nerve in dramatic finale but she tripped up during the award ceremony on Sunday
'It was always my dream. We decided the tie, it can't be better.'
Captain Petr Pala paid tribute to Pliskova after a particularly draining day for the 23-year-old.
'The way Karolina handled it in singles and doubles was phenomenal,' he said.
Pliskova got the decisive break in the ninth game of the second set against Pavlyuchenkova and closed out with a service winner to delight 13,000 cheering fans.
Russia's Maria Sharapova casts her eye at the winners' trophy after Sunday's defeat in the final
Sharapova was still upbeat despite the defeat as Russia were presented with runners-up trophies
'It's definitely one of my biggest wins of my career,' said the 23-year-old rising star of Czech tennis. 'I really enjoyed the match and I'm really happy that I won.'
Following the 1993 split of Czechoslovakia, the Czechs won their first title as an independent nation in 2011 by beating Russia in Moscow, and retained the trophy in Prague the following year.
They claimed their third Fed Cup title in four years last November by beating Germany in the final in Prague. Czechoslovakia won five times, including three straight from 1983-85.
'We tried, we did our best,' Russian captain Anastasia Myskina said. 'I'm proud of my girls, they played good. We lost, that's the end of the story.'
A rare presence by Sharapova was a boost for the Russians and the five-time Grand Slam champion made her presence felt by winning both singles matches.
'I came here to play two singles matches and I did my job,' Sharapova said.
Petra Kvitova showed plenty of fight but eventually went down 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 against Maria Sharapova
Pliskova and Barbora Strycova lost the first set of the double decider of the Fed Cup final
Petra Kvitova (left) and Lucie Safarova cheer on their team-mates during the deciding rubber
Pliskova and Strycova fought back for the hosts to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and nine minutes
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