Doubles duo Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke sealed a 3-2 victory for the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final against Russia in Moscow.
The pair needed four match points to see off Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-2 after one hour and 36 minutes in the Olympic Stadium as the visitors lifted their first title since 1988, when the former Czechoslovakia won the annual women's team competition.
"Petra (Kvitova) won two points for us but we needed one more," Czech captain Petr Pala said.
"I'm happy we managed to get the third one. We won it all together because the victory is made of small pieces you have to put together.
"It was great team work."
Russian skipper Sahmil Tarpischev also highlighted Kvitova's contribution to the Czechs' win.
"The Czechs won thanks to Kvitova's superb play," Tarpischev said.
"She was just great."
Wimbledon champion and world number two Kvitova had put the visitors 2-1 ahead after beating two-time grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Kvitova, fresh from her success at last week's season-ending WTA championship in Istanbul, battled back from a set down to win her first ever meeting with the 26-year-old Kuznetsova in two hours and 13 minutes.
"I wasn't playing my tennis in the first set, (I was) making too many mistakes, while Svetlana moved and returned very well," Kvitova said.
"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 favourite flat drives."
Kuznetsova admitted: "The difference between us today was that she has played so many tight matches this season, while I rarely had such intriguing matches.
"I played well today but she was just a bit better at key moments."
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova took the tie to the decisive doubles by ousting Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-4.
Pavlyuchenkova, ranked 15th, broke her rival's serve twice in the opening set for a one-set advantage after 41 minutes, and a break in the fifth game of the second set put her on the way to victory.
"I was nervous playing as I had no room for error," said the 20-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, who took 90 minutes to record her fourth win over Safarova in five meetings.
"But she (Safarova) also was in the same situation and it was also tough for her. Anyway, all's well that ends well."
Kvitova drew first blood for the Czechs on the opening day, beating Kirilenko 6-2, 6-2, while Kuznetsova pulled the scores level with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Safarova.
AFP
Tags: tennis, sport, russian-federation, czech-republic First posted November 07, 2011 08:37:37
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