Kvitova, Safarova give Czechs 2-0 lead over Australia
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Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova both recorded straight-set singles victories on Saturday to give the host and two-time reigning champion Czech Republic a 2-0 lead in an opening-round Fed Cup tie against Australia.
Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, led off by beating Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 on the indoor hardcourt at Cez Arena, then Safarova followed up with a hard-fought 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4) decision over former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur.
The Czechs, who captured a second straight Fed Cup title last year by beating Serbia in the final, will attempt to clinch a spot in April's semifinals when Kvitova takes the court against Stosur in the first reverse singles match on Sunday.
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If Stosur keeps Australia alive, Gajdosova will look to even the tie when she faces Safarova.
Sunday's doubles match has a Czech tandem of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka battling an Aussie duo of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua.
The Czech Republic-Australia winner will meet the Italy-USA victor.