ITF

S E N I O R S Defending champions USA are back in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final, and will travel to Czech Republic for a battle between the two most successful nations in the women's team competition. Kate Battersby reports. IF THE BIGGEST PRIZES IN ELITE SPORT SHOULD BE DECIDED BETWEEN THE ABSOLUTE CREAM OF THE CROP, THEN THE 2018 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is in for a richly satisfying final. The Czech Republic and the USA – the two most successful nations in the history of the competition, winners between them of the last four titles, owners of the top two spots in the world rankings – will fight it out in November for this year's crown. Both finalists came through tough away ties. Defending champions the USA reached their 30th final, defeating France 3-2 in Aix-en-Provence. US Open champion Sloane Stephens earned her first singles rubber win in more than two years, and then made it two for good measure, before Madison Keys captured the decisive fourth point. The Czechs earned their sixth final spot in eight years thanks to a powerful 4-1 win over Germany in Stuttgart, with a standout pair of victories from Petra Kvitova and one from Karolina Pliskova – neither of whom, incidentally, was available when their nation succumbed to the USA in last year's semifinals. "I feel relieved," said Czech captain Petr Pala, who now has the chance to burnish still further his record as the most successful Fed Cup captain in history with five wins during his tenure. "It was a very tough tie, with an outstanding performance from each of the [singles] winners. The tennis was unbelievable." Kvitova was in particularly startling form, demolishing Julia Goerges 6-3 6-2 before a still more comprehensive trampling of Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-2. The two-time Wimbledon champion of course missed that semifinal against the USA last year as she was still recovering from the horrific attack inside her Czech home at the end of 2016. "It was painful not to be able to play Fed Cup," she reflected. "I missed it last year, but playing two ties this year, winning four matches – it's great, I have to say. Hopefully I'm going to keep it high for the final too." It is unthinkable that either she or Pliskova, should they be fit and available, would not be selected by Pala for the final, which the Czechs will host. US captain Kathy Rinaldi faces a different dilemma. Among her line-up in Aix-en-Provence, both Keys and Bethanie Mattek-Sands missed out on last year's triumphant final through injury. Each had that motivation strongly in mind in Aix. However, such is the strength in depth facing Rinaldi, assuming all players are fit and available, that somebody has to miss out. Among those possibly at her disposal are those young whippersnappers Venus and Serena Williams, both of whom were part of the USA's 1999 Cup-winning side, F E D C U P B Y B N P PA R I B A S 12 ITFWorld // SPRING 2018 ➝ The Czechs celebrate reaching – and hosting – another Fed Cup final FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS FINAL 10-11 NOVEMBER Czech Republic v USA U S A Sloane Stephens enjoyed two satisfying singles wins

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