Czech Republic win Fed Cup

Germany dug themselves a huge hole after falling behind 2-0 in Saturday's singles matches. And the chances of a miracle comeback looked dim indeed when Kvitova won the first set against Kerber in a tie-break.

Kerber rallied from 3-0 down to win the second set 6-4, and she steamed into a 4-1 lead in the third and final set.

But Kvitova reached and pegged Kerber back in-front of the crowd in Prague and finished the match off after converting her fourth match point.

Kvitova told reporters, "It was an amazing match, from both of us. It was up and down from the beginning. Maybe I was lucky in the end."

All told the Wimbledon champion and world number four took two hours and 57 minutes to beat 10th-ranked Kerber 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. That result gave the Czechs an unassailable 3-0 lead, rendering the final two matches meaningless.

It was the Czech Republic's eighth Fed Cup victory and their third in four years. Germany's 22-year Fed Cup drought continues. Germany have finished as the runners-up four times in the period.

German captain Barbara Rittner told Sat1 TV after the match, "I am very proud. We will come back and win this damn thing."

rd, jc/sm (AP, dpa)