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By Erik Gudris | Sunday, April 20, 2014

 
Angelique Kerber Fed Cup

Angelique Kerber overcame Sam Stosur to send her German Fed Cup team into their first final since 1992. Next up will be the Czech Republic.

Photo Credit: AP

The long trip down under was worth it for Germany's Fed Cup team as they now enter their first Fed Cup final since 1992.

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Germany held a 2-0 lead entering day two of their World Group semifinal against Australia in Brisbane. Sam Stosur tried to keep alive the hopes of her home team as she faced Angelique Kerber in the first reverse singles rubber.

Stosur came out firing with big serves and broke Kerber early. But Kerber battled back and looked poised to level the set. But Stosur broke Kerber again with a forehand pass to take it 6-4.

Kerber lifted her game in the second set and took hold of an early lead. Timing her returns better, Kerber broke Stosur several times and soon served out the 6-0 set to love.

The final set proved much closer as each traded early breaks. Despite Stosur battling, Kerber's excellent defense proved the key as she broke Stosur again.

Kerber served for the tie at 5-4 and with a final ace clinched the 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory.

The second reverse singles rubber was not played. However, Australia's Ash Barty and Casey Dellacqua beat Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2, 6-7(5), 10-2 to win the dead doubles rubber. Germany celebrated the 3-1 victory that sends them into their first Fed Cup final since 1992 when they beat Spain for the title.

“It’s a very special moment for me and the whole team,” Kerber said. “It feels very great. I played a good match but it was a tough one because Sam was playing also very tough and I have never beaten her before. It just means a lot; it’s a special moment for all of us."

Czech Republic Rolls Defending Champion Italy in Ostrava

Petra Kvitova put the finishing touch on decisive win over defending champion Italy in day two of their World Group semifinal held in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

With her Czech team leading 2-0, Kvitova took on Italy's Roberta Vinci in the reverse singles rubber. Vinci was a last minute replacement for Sara Errani who previously lost her last six meetings against Kvitova.

Kvitova threw in 25 unforced errors in the opening set, but that didn't stop her from taking it 6-3. The second set proved closer despite Kvitova going up a break against Vinci.

Serving an ace out wide on match point, Kvitova clinched the 6-3, 7-5 win that sealed her team's return to the Fed Cup final.

"She returned very well and my serve didn't help me as much as yesterday. It was difficult for me but I won the important points," Kvitova said.

Germany will now face the Czech team in the Czech Republic in November's final.

 

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