USA to face Czech Republic in Fed Cup final

Defending champions the United States will take on the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final after the Americans dominated day two of their semifinal against France.

Tied at 1-1 overnight, US Open champion Sloane Stephens thrashed Kristina Mladenovic 6-2 6-0 in Aix-en-Provence, before Madison Keys clinched victory with a  7-6 6-4 win over Pauline Parmentier.

“I was really nervous,” Keys told fedcup.com.

“I wanted to be the one who got that winning point. I was so sad I couldn’t play in the final last year because of my wrist injury. Fed Cup is special. It captures the extremes of the highs and lows of tennis.”

Keys-ey does it.
@Madison_Keys defeats Pauline Parmentier 76(4) 64 to send USA through to a second straight #FedCup Final!

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— Fed Cup (@FedCup) April 22, 2018

In Stuttgart, Petra Kvitova eaed past Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-2 to take the Czech Republic into their sixth Fed Cup final in the last eight years.

Julia Georges had earlier kept German hopes alive with an impressive 6-4 6-2 win over Karolina Pliskova.

“I didn’t really expect (this level),” said Kvitova.

“From the beginning I was dominating on the court most of the time. That made it easier. To keep that level against great players is not easy… but I did it. And I’m happy for it.”

The Czechs will host the Americans – the two most successful nations in Fed Cup history – in the final on 10-11 November.

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A sensational performance from @Petra_Kvitova who defeats Kerber 62 62 and sends Czech Republic into a 6th #FedCupFinal in 8 years! pic.twitter.com/fo8vkZNIwx

— Fed Cup (@FedCup) April 22, 2018