Czech Republic clinched their fourth title in the last five years with 3-2 after a thrilling fifth doubles rubber match where Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova came back from a set down to edge Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina with 4-6 6-3 6-2. It’s the fourth title in five years for the Czech team but the ninth triumph in the history of this competition considering the five wins of the former Czechoslovakia.
Pliskova and Strycova were the heroines of a fantastic week-end for the home team who were pushed by the incredible home crowd who packed the O2 Arena in Prague. What a week-end for the Czech team who played without this year’s Roland Garros finalist Lucie Safarova who was sidelined from the week-end by injury problems but showed their usual strength with great players like Karolina Pliskova, Barbora Strycova and Petra Kvitova.
Czech Republic went up in the second game a break to take a 2-0 lead after Pliskova hit a volley at the net . Vesnina (winner of two Grand Slam doubles titles at the 2013 Roland Garros and the 2014 US Open) and Pavlyuchenkova broke Strycova’s serve in the third game and consolidated the break with a hold in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2.
Strycova, who boasts a 7-3 winning record in Fed Cup doubles, held serve in the seventh game to love to give the Czech team the 4-3 lead. At 4-4 Vesnina and Pavlyuchenkova broke Pliskova’s serve to love with a backhand winner to love. The Russian team served out to clinch the first set with 6-4 with a volley from Pavlyuchenkova.
At the start of the second set Pliskova saved two break points to hold serve. The Czech team broke Vesnina for 2-0. Strycova held serve to give the home team the third consecutive game in the second set.
Czech Republic pulled away to 4-1 as Vesnina missed a volley on game point. The home team broke Vesina to 15 for 5-1 and served for the set.
Vesnina and Pavlyuchenkova saved one of the two break back chances to hold their serve for 2-5. The Russian team held serve comfortably to claw their way back into the set for 3-5. Pliskova held serve to love to send the fifth rubber match to the decisive set.
Czech Republic broke serve in the first game of the decider as Vesnina sent a forehand into the net. The home team consoldated the break to take the 2-0 lead. Russia held serve Vesnina got the first game on the scoreboard for Russia with a volley winner. Strycova held serve for 3-1. In the fifth game Vesnina won two consecutive points at 40-all to hold serve for 3-2. Stycova faced a break back point as she hit a volley long but the Czech team saved break points to take a crucial 4-2 lead. Czech Republic broke serve for the fifth time in the match to pull ahead with 5-2 before Strycova served the match out.
Czech Repunlic sealed the win on the first championship point for 4-6 6-3 6-2 completing an incredible win after coming back from a set down.
The Czech team danced on the court to celebrate their fourth triumph in front of the home crowd.
“It’s unbelievable. I am speechless. It’s a fantastic feeling. It was always my dream. We decided the doubles. It can’t be better. The crowd helped us giving us a great support”, said Strycova
“It’s definitely one of the biggest wins of my career. I really enjoyed the match and I am really happy that I won”, said Pliskova
“It’s a great day for Czech tennis. I was confident that we could win after Petra Kvitova lost against Maria Sharapova. The crowd pushed us a lot”, said Czech captain Petr Pala.
