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By Chris Oddo | Saturday, November 14, 2015

 
Sharapova Prage

Maria Sharapova eased past Karolina Pliskova to set up a high-stakes battle with Petra Kvitova on Saturday in the Fed Cup final.

Photo Source: Fed Cup

Maria Sharapova eased past Karolina Pliskova, 6-3, 6-4, to bring Russia level with the Czechs in Prague and set up a to-die-for third rubber between Sharapova and Kvitova to kick off festivities on day 2 of the Fed Cup final on Sunday.

More: Spirited Kvitova Rallies to Down Pavlyuchenkova

“Last match of the season,” Sharapova told Craig Gabriel on court after her sixth career Fed Cup victory. “You have to give everything that you have and I know both of us will. That’s the type of match that you want to see in a Fed Cup final.”

On Sunday the Czechs, winners of three of the last four Fed Cup titles, will try to deny Russia its first title since 2008.

Sharapova and Kvitova will meet for the tenth time and the first time in 2015. Sharapova has won five of the last six and holds a lifetime edge of 6-4 over Kvitova but the Czech has taken their last two meeting at the WTA Finals.

Sharapova’s first career meeting with blossoming Pliskova had some edgy moments but the Russian was able to maintain control throughout despite having some wobbles on serve.


When she needed to lock down the match, Sharapova delivered some effective serving in the second set to keep her slim lead over Pliskova. With the 23-year-old Czech threatening to get back on serve in the sixth game of the second set, Sharapova wiggled out of a 0-40 scenario, winning five consecutive points and closing with one of her 15 forehand winners to hold for 5-3.

Two games later, after Pliskova valiantly saved two match points to hold for 4-5, Sharapova served the match out without any complications.

“I didn’t serve my best and that’s something I’ll definitely need to improve for tomorrow, but it saved me in the end,” said Sharapova. “I came through love-40 with some really big serves and in the last game as well after missing those two match points.”

Sharapova finished with 28 winners to just 11 for Pliskova, who was competing in her second Fed Cup tie. The Russian's win ends an impressive run of 15 consecutive live rubbers won for the defending champs.

After the match the Russian embraced her Captain, Anastasia Myskina before exchanging hugs with her smiling teammates.

“It’s an incredible atmosphere,” Sharapova said of the O2 Arena crowd in Prague. “You see a lot more Czech flags than Russian, but in my mind I just see red, white and blue.”


 

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