Story highlights
The Czech Republic claim their first Fed Cup since 1988 after beating Russia 3-2 in final
Doubles duo Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke seal victory in deciding rubber in Moscow
It ends a superb year for Petra Kvitova after her Wimbledon and WTA Tour Finals win
The Czech Republic have secured their first Fed Cup title since 1988 after doubles duo Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke won the deciding rubber to give them a 3-2 victory over Russia in Moscow on Sunday.
The pair defeated Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-2 as the Czechs emulated their compatriots from the former Czechoslavakia 23 years ago.
The clash was finely poised at 1-1 after Saturday’s opening day, but Petra Kvitova gave the Czechs a perfect start with a 4-6 6-2 6-3 success over Svetlana Kuznetsova in Sunday’s opening singles.
However, Russia fought back and took the match to the deciding doubles rubber when Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova saw off Lucie Safarova 6-2 6-4.
But it was the Czechs who proved victorious and 36-year-old doubles specialist Peschke told the official Fed Cup website: “It feels fantastic to win.
“I have been part of this team for 13 years and I am so proud of all my teammates and the people behind the scenes,” she added.
The success also completes a remarkable year for Kvitova, who came into 2011 relatively unknown but has now added the Fed Cup to her victories at Wimbledon and the WTA Tour Finals in Istanbul.
The world number two told reporters: “I wasn’t playing my tennis in the first set making too many mistakes, while Svetlana moved and returned very well.
“It was tough to come back into the match in the second set but I forced myself into playing with crosses mainly instead of my favorite flat drives.”