ITF

10 I ITF CIRCUITS AND PROFESSIONAL TENNIS EVENTS • FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS A sell-out crowd at the O2 Arena was left on the edge of its seats when the tie went to a decisive doubles rubber and even that didn't disappoint as Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova came back from a set down to clinch the third point for the hosts against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina. Such is the Czechs' strength in depth that all three players that competed during the fi nal contributed to the overall points tally but Pliskova deserves special mention for her emphatic home debut. The long-limbed Czech had only previously competed in one Fed Cup tie and that was played in Canada in the 2015 fi rst round. She then proceeded to bounce back from an opening day loss against Sharapova before winning the fourth and fi fth rubbers to help her country land the decisive blow against Russia. Indeed, Czech captain Petr Pala can count his blessings having a third singles player of Pliskova's quality. Not many nations would be able to cope with the loss of Lucie Safarova, who, despite being in the fi nal nominated quartet, was unable to play due to an ongoing illness. And had it not been for Pliskova then Russia might have been able to avenge a loss to the Czechs that was also decided by the doubles rubber at the 2011 Fed Cup Final that started Petra Kvitova and co's domination of women's team tennis. Not even an inspired performance by Russia's Maria Sharapova could prevent Czech Republic from winning a fourth Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title in fi ve years when the two sides put on a show at the 2015 Final in Prague. Fed Cup by BNP Paribas 357 PLAYERS FROM 90 NATIONS CONTESTED FED CUP INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION • ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015

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