Sunday 15 November 2015 23:07, UK
Czech Republic have retained the Fed Cup after defeating Russia 3-2 in a thrilling final in Prague.
Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova were the heroes for the hosts, coming from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina 4-6 6-3 6-2 in the doubles rubber that decided the match.
The day began with the teams locked together at 1-1 but Russia seized the initiative when Maria Sharapova came from a set down to beat her fellow Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova 3-6 6-4 6-2.
The duo had both won their opening matches on Saturday and Kvitova, who has been a star of the Czech team in recent years, made the better start.
But the relentlessly competitive Sharapova responded by winning a tense second set and then ran away with the third to put Russia within a point of victory.
However, Pavlyuchenkova then proved unable to clinch victory in the day's second singles rubber.
Pliskova saved the day for the Czechs, bouncing back from Saturday's loss to Sharapova with a 6-3 6-4 win over Pavlyuchenkova, as she used her powerful serve and big forehand to good effect.
That meant that the title rested on the doubles match and Pliskova and Pavlyuchenkova were once again on opposite sides of the net.
However, Vesnina was the key figure in the first set, leading the revival as Russia recovered from an early break and serving out the set after they had broken Pliskova to love.
The Russians looked the sharper team at that point and Sharapova and her team mates were in high spirits as they cheered them on from the sidelines.
However, the Czech team were the recipients of fervent support from the home fans and turned the match around in no uncertain terms as they roared into a 5-1 lead in set two.
Strycova then failed to serve out the set but Pliskova got the job done at the second attempt and the hosts then broke again for a 2-0 lead in set two.
And Pliskova then held serve in the biggest match of the final as the Czechs saved a series of break points before winning an epic game to go 4-2 up.
That proved the key moment as the deflated Russian side were broken again in the next game, before Strycova served out the match to clinch another Fed Cup title for the Czech Republic.
