Defending champion Czech Republic marches to Fed Cup final after blanking France 3-0 in semis

Petra Kvitova from Czech Republic reacts after winning a point against Kristina Mladenovic from France during the Fed Cup tennis semifinal match in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Saturday, April 18, 2015. Kvitova won the match in straight sets and gave Czech Republic a 2-0 lead. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

Caroline Garcia from France serves to Petra Kvitova from Czech Republic during the Fed Cup tennis semifinal match in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Sunday, April 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

Petra Kvitova from Czech Republic returns a ball to Caroline Garcia from France during the Fed Cup semifinal tennis match in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Sunday, April 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

Defending champion Czech Republic reached the fourth Fed Cup final in five years by defeating France after Petra Kvitova won the first reverse singles Sunday.

In a match of two big-hitting players, fourth-ranked Kvitova beat 29th-ranked Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4 for an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the semifinals.

After failing to serve out the match at 5-2, Kvitova converted her first match point in her following service game with a passing forehand shot.

The Czechs will face Germany or Russia in the final in November with a chance of winning their fourth title in five years.

Garcia double faulted twice in a row in the third game of the final set to drop her serve and Kvitova marched on with another break in the fifth game.