Heading into Fed Cup final, Kvitova leads with vast experience

By Nina Pantic Nov 07, 2018
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Heading into Fed Cup final, Kvitova leads with vast experience

ByNina Pantic

Published Nov 07, 2018

Petra Kvitova is preparing for yet another Fed Cup final as the Czech Republic prepares to host the U.S. in Prague this weekend. The world No. 7 makes an experienced leader, having been part of five Fed Cup-winning teams since 2011.

"It will be a full house for sure," Kvitova told Martina Navratilova in a recent interview. "Who knows how the Fed Cup format will look like in the next years, so we are happy to play a final in Prague. We have a great team."

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Kvitova will be feeling confident when play gets underway at the 02 Arena on Saturday, despite going 0-3 in Singapore. She's 2018's WTA title leader after winning five tournaments on three different surfaces. The 28-year-old is also undefeated this season in Fed Cup action, having won both her singles rubbers against Switzerland in the quarterfinals and Germany in the semifinals. The last time she finished undefeated in Fed Cup play was in 2011.

The two-time Wimbledon champion will take her perfect record into the tie against Team USA's Alison Riske, Sofia Kenin and Nicole Melichar. Kvitova is joined by Barbora Strycova, Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejicova. Krejicova just replaced injured world No. 8 Karolina Pliskova, but it's great news for her doubles partner Siniakova after the duo finished the season as year-end No. 1s.

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Kvitova's Fed Cup experience will be leaps and bounds ahead of her American opponents. Three of the four American women have never played a Fed Cup tie before; Riske was part of last year's winning team (though she didn't compete in the final against Belarus). The world No. 63 has played just three Fed Cup matches.

On the Czech side, Kvitova boasts an impressive 30-11 winning record in Fed Cup play, and Strycova is not far behind with a 21-11 record. Siniakova is similar to Riske in experience, having played five Fed Cup matches in her career. Krejicova is the sole rookie on the team, and will make her debut in front of a home crowd.

"Of course we want to win and do well for our country, but it's more about being together and having team camaraderie," Riske said. "And out of that comes great things—at least last year it did. Hopefully we can give the Czechs a run for their money this year."

Heading into Fed Cup final, Kvitova leads with vast experience

Heading into Fed Cup final, Kvitova leads with vast experience

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This Week on Tennis Channel:

Fed Cup Final (Sat. 11/10 to Sun. 11/11)

Petra Kvitova leads the Czech Republic against defending champions USA. Live coverage begins Saturday at 8:00 am EST.