OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Defending champion Czech Republic reached the fourth Fed Cup final in five years by defeating France after Petra Kvitova won the first reverse singles Sunday.
In a match of two big-hitting players, fourth-ranked Kvitova beat 29th-ranked Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4 for an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the semifinals.
After failing to serve out the match at 5-2, Kvitova converted her first match point in her following service game with a passing forehand shot.
The Czechs will face Germany or Russia in the final in November with a chance of winning their fourth title in five years.
Garcia double faulted twice in a row in the third game of the final set to drop her serve and Kvitova marched on with another break in the fifth game.
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