By Erik Gudris | Sunday, April 17, 2016
Karolina Pliskova led her Czech Republic team to victory as they edged Switzerland in the Fed Cup World Group semifinal in Lucerne.
This was despite yet another surprise heroic performance from World No. 129 Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland.
Fed Cup: USA Beats Australia To Return to World Group
Pliskova started off Sunday’s reverse singles by facing Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky. Though Bacsinszky has won her last two meetings against Pliskova, this time things would go in favor of the Czech.
Despite a tight first set, it was Pliskova who managed to break Bacsinszky for 5-4 thanks to a smash winner. From there, Pliskova won the set 6-4 with an ace and never looked back.
Pliskova raced ahead to a 4-0 lead over an erractic Bacsinszky. Soon, Pliskova wrapped up the 6-4, 6-2 win to put her team ahead.
That once again left Golubic trying to pull off another upset win as she had on Saturday against Pliskova. This time, Golubic found herself facing the higher ranked Barbora Strycova. A back and forth first set finally went in favor of Strycova who closed it out 6-3 on her fifth set point thanks to a Golubic forehand error.
But as before, Golubic raised her game as she found inspiration from the cheering home crowd. Using a combination of fine net play and multiple winners from her one-handed backhand, Golubic eventually served for the set at 5-4.
But Strycova broke in the next game to level things at 5-all. Golubic, breaking Strycova again, would get another chance to serve out the set at 6-5. But once again, Goubic feeling the pressure couldn’t close it out thus resulting in a tiebreak.
Golubic opened up a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak only to have Strycova soon even the score. Yet Strycova, feeling the brunt of the home crowd’s cheering opposition, started to overhit in the key moments. That allowed Golubic to eventually finish off the set 7-6(6) with a forehand winner.
With the crowd and momentum on her side, Golubic took advantage over a reeling Strycova. The 23-year-old Swiss player raised her level of play down the stretch as winners flowed off both wings. Golubic broke early and then jumped out to a 5-1 lead.
A final backhand winner for Goulbic sealed yet another unexpected win for her 3-6, 7-6(6) 6-1.
With the tie level at 2-all, it came down to the deciding doubles.
Switzerland captain Heinz Guenthardt decided to substitute in Golubic with all-time great Martina Hingis to take on Pliskova and Lucie Hradecka.
But depsite Hingis’ experience and Golubic’s heroics, the Czech team proved too strong from start to finish.
With big serves and bold play up at net, the Czechs quickly took the opening set 6-2. Hingis found herself broken at love to open the second set.
Though the Swiss team found inspiration with some fine up at net, it was not enough to halt the Czechs who served at 88% first serves for most of the match.
On match point, Hradecka served out the win and the tie 6-2, 6-2 to give her Czech team the final win 3-2.
The Czechs will now return to the Fed Cup later this year for the fifth time in six years. They will play France who edged the Netherlands 3-2 in their semifinal.
(Photo Credit: Fed Cup)