THE two combatants for the 2020 Fed Cup Fantasy Tennis competition have been decided with Czech Republic and the United States winning through to the final. While both matches against their respective opponents in Russia and Australia were in sweeps, they had to fight hard for the most part in what was an entertaining semi-finals round.

CZECH REPUBLIC (2) defeated RUSSIA (0)

After taking down the reigning champions in France last round, Russia came into the semi-final clash with Czech Republic fairly confident. Though with their two players ranked inside the top 12, the fourth seed would not give in easily and it showed from the get-go. As proceedings between Ekaterina Alexandrova and Karolina Pliskova started relatively straightforwardly, the Czech world number two stepped it up a notch at two-all to win five consecutive games and break her Russian opponent twice to win the set, 6-2. She started strongly in the second set as well, overcoming a break to get back on top 3-2. Leading 5-3 at one stage, the match looked to be over, but Alexandrova found a way to extend the life expectancy of the contest, winning the next two games and forcing it past 5-5. Pliskova again found a way to step up however, winning the next two games and breaking crucially in the final game with a massive cross-court forehand winner in an hour and 36 minutes.

Petra Kvitova had a much tougher encounter against world number 30, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with the match last almost three hours despite being a straight sets victory. Kvitova controlled play early in the contest to go 5-2 up in the first set before her opponent caught up. Pavlyuchenkova won three consecutive games which was enough to force it to 5-5 and with both players holding serve it went into a tiebreak. Kvitova left nothing out on the court to win that tiebreak 7-3 in a dominant performance to get the Czech fans up and about. The Russians held hope early in the second set as Pavlyuchenkova won the first two games, but then Kvitova won four of the next five to lead 4-3 with a break in hand. Pavlyuchenkova broke back and held to suddenly be 5-4 up herself, only for the Grand Slam winner to rise again and win the final three games of the match to claim victory, 7-6 7-5.

Karolina Pliskova (CZE) defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 6-2 7-5
Petra Kvitova (CZE) defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 7-6 7-5

—

UNITED STATES (2) defeated AUSTRALIA (0)

The match of the day, and indeed the tournament so far belonged in the first match of he second tie. Top five stars and Grand Slam winners, Ash Barty and Sofia Kenin were set to light up the court in what could well be the difference between the nations. much like Kenin’s clash against Garbine Muguruza, the importance of winning would likely mean that United States would breeze through with Serena Williams expected to roll past Ajla Tomljanovic later on. That was exactly what happened with Williams winning 6-1 6-2 in an hour and 28 minutes. She only allowed Tomljanovic three games during the match, always in control and never broken in what was yet another dominant performance by the world number nine and multiple Grand Slam winner. It handed the United States the victory 2-0, but it all became possible because of Kenin’s work earlier in the day.

In a match that lasted three hours and 56 minutes, neither Barty nor Kenin would give an inch with 36 games – including two tiebreakers – played. In the end it was Kenin who would get up 7-6 6-7 6-4 but not by much in what was ultimately a see-sawing contest. In the first set, Kenin led 5-3 at one stage but the Australian clawed her way back with the next three games to put her opponent on the back foot. Kenin stepped up again to force the tiebreaker and then won that 9-7 in a thriller. Both players broke each other early in the third set for the American to be leading 3-2 at one stage, but again it was Barty who won the race to five with three consecutive games. Yet again, Kenin forced her way back into the contest with some big hitting and risk-taking. She made it 5-5 and then into a tiebreaker which this time it was Barty who got up 8-6 in an equally thrilling set. The third set provided just as many momentum swings, with Kenin going 2-0 up, then Barty pulling her back to 2-2, and each player forcing their way in front. Kenin broke the Australian to go 5-3 up and while Barty was able to hold next game, the American stepped up and made the most of her chances with a couple of match points to send the world number packing for the second time this year. It was an exhausting contest, but Kenin was home and the United States were back in the Fed Cup decider.

Sofia Kenin (USA) defeated Ash Barty (AUS) 7-6 6-7 6-4
Serena Williams (USA) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-1 6-2