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Kvitova leads Czechs into Fed Cup semis

Petra Kvitova in unbeaten indoors since 2010 © Getty Images

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Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova sealed Czech Republic's place in the Fed Cup semi-finals as they opened the defence of their title with a 4-1 victory over Germany.

The world No. 2, who is unbeaten indoors since 2010, dropped the opening set against Sabine Lisicki, but bounced back to claim a 6-7(2) 6-4 6-1 victory, and with it an unassailable 3-0 lead for the Czechs.

Angelique Kerber claimed a consolation victory for Germany, with a 6-4 6-4 win over Lucie Hradecka, but the Czech duo of Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova beat Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3 7-6(4) to secure a 4-1 triumph in Stuttgart.

Svetlana Kuznetsova sealed Russia's place in the semi-finals with a 6-2 4-6 6-3 victory over Silvia Soler Espinosa in Moscow. Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova had given the hosts a 2-0 lead in Saturday's singles rubbers, but when the world No. 3 woke up with a cold on Sunday, Nadia Petrova was called up.

With just two hours' notice, the Russian was underprepared and struggled to settle into her rhythm as Spanish No. 1 Carla Suarez Navarro powered to a 6-0 6-3 victory. That left Kuznetsova needing victory to avoid taking the tie to a crunch doubles decider, and the world No. 19 battled hard to claim a 6-2 4-6 6-3 win against her Spanish opponent.

With their place in the last four already secure, Kuznetsova and Petrova threw in the towel after losing the opening set of their doubles clash against Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja for a 3-2 victory.

The other two nations to reach the last four are Serbia and Italy, who both needed to go to a fifth rubber before defeating Belgium and Ukraine respectively. Victory marks the first ever occasion that Serbia have reached the semi-finals of the Fed Cup World Group.

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