The Czech Republic has made its mark yet again, downing Russia in a dramatic Fed Cup by BNP Paribas final between two European powerhouses of women’s tennis. Having the home crowd in their corner was a clear advantage for the Czechs, as the final in Prague went all the way to the fifth rubber. The hosts eventually pulled off a 3-2 victory to successfully defend their title.
After a period of dominance in this event in the 1980s (as part of Czechoslovakia), this marks a new era of team tennis superiority for the central European nation, riding high with another generation of top players. With two players in the Top Ten - and one at number eleven - it is hard to see this train being halted any time soon. Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, 2015 French Open runner-up Lucie Safarova, up-and-comer Karolina Pliskova and winner of 17 doubles tournaments Barbora Strycova came together in the final to keep the Russians at bay and claim a fourth Fed Cup victory in five years. Their only blip came in 2013 when Italy beat Russia for the title. Interestingly, these three European teams, Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic, are the only nations to have shared the Fed Cup spoils in the twelve years since 2004, with four titles apiece.
Russia was duly represented by world No.4 and massive drawcard Maria Sharapova. With occasional top tenner Ekaterina Makarova out injured, recent Kremlin Cup runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was the other selection for the singles, chosen over her conqueror in that final, two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. While not quite a controversial decision, overlooking the experienced Kuznetsova may be a decision that haunts the Russian coach, Anastasia Myskina, as Pavlyuchenkova lost all three matches she played, including the doubles with Elena Vesnina.
Pavlyuchenkova’s opening performance was encouraging, if not successful, losing to world No.6 Kvitova in the first rubber in three sets. Sharapova wasted no time in evening things up for Russia with a relatively straightforward 6-3 6-4 victory over Pliskova. The following day Sharapova backed up with a tough, hard-hitting, fast-paced three set win in the marquee match over Kvitova. The high quality and intensity was on show for all at Prague’s own O2 arena, and was a match very much fitting of two Grand Slam winners in a Fed Cup final. Pliskova later won her reverse singles against Pavlyuchenkova by the exact same scoreline she had lost to Sharapova.
The supporting actors took centre stage as the finale came down to the wire. In a fierce doubles match played out in front of a boisterous but respectful crowd, the home team lost the first set but eventually turned the match in their favour, levelling at a set all before stamping their authority on the third set, breaking twice to win it 6-2. As always, the Fed Cup was all about the team and is more than any one player. Maria Sharapova, having done her part in winning her two singles rubbers for Russia, could only watch from the sidelines as Pavlyuchenkova netted a volley to hand a memorable victory to the Czechs.