Czech’s Fed Cup Title is 5th in Last 6 Years

by Staff | November 14th, 2016, 3:27 pm
  • 8 Comments

The Czech Republic needed the fifth and deciding doubles rubber to defeat France over the weekend in Strasbourg, securing a fifth Fed Cup title over the last six years.
ADHEREL
France’s Caroline Garcia recorded singles wins over Petra Kvitova on Saturday and Karolina Pliskova on Sunday, but in the doubles decider she and Kristina Mladenovic lost to Pliskova and Barbora Strycova 7-5, 7-5.

Kvitova is the lone player who has been on the Czech squad for all five wins in the last six years.

The US Open singles finalist Pliskova and Strycova teamed to win the final decisive doubles rubber for the second straight year.


“[It was] one of the best trophies I am going to win,” Pliskova said.

Petr Pala said he went into the weekend feeling that the dominant Czech weren’t the favorites, and ended the weekend the same way.

“[France] put a stunning performance,” he said. “I don’t think we were favorites for the doubles, but you never know what you’re going to get in team competitions. That was some weekend of tennis.”

After Garcia put France up 2-1 following back-to-back singles wins, Strycova forced the deciding doubles by beating France’s Alize Cornet 6-2, 7-6(4).

The French were left still searching for a first Fed Cup title since 2003.

“It’s a big disappointment for me, for the girls, for the team,” said French captain Amelie Mauresmo, “but tomorrow it might be easier to reflect a little bit and take a step back and see what this team has achieved over the past three to four years.”


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8 Comments for Czech’s Fed Cup Title is 5th in Last 6 Years

Gregoire Gentil Says:

Mauresmo is quitting the captain position this morning to give second birth next year. Tough morning for Garcia and Mladenovic who didn’t know before.


jalep Says:

Wow, well congrats to Amelie, Gregoire, but very bad news for Team France. Amelie does seem good to them and gives a lot. And it has to be a tough loss. Caroline, Kiki, and Alize played their hearts out.

But so did Barbora Strycova! Bara is incredible — dubs and singles.
Petra looked tired, but the Czechs have such a deep and talented bench.

Congrats to Barbora Strycova, Karolina, Petra…team Czech!


Gregoire Gentil Says:

Yes, those are tough losses (final, Mauresmo) for Garcia and Mladenovic. They haven’t yet got what (I think) they deserve.

I have to admit that Strycova was amazing indeed. She was a little bit febrile at some times but she completely deserved the Cup.


jalep Says:

Yes, Strycova is aggressive and excitable. I followed her twitter recently because she’s active on it too. She impressed me with this routine, too. Looks like fun:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL8uwdzDUK8/


Gregoire Gentil Says:

I was doing this kind of stuff when I was in fifth grade! The funniest tennis handshake ever, courtesy of Strycova: http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/09/gif-wta-handshake-year/52815/


jalep Says:

lol, Elina Svitolina was trying to give her a limp hand 😄 Barbo grabs the hand back and shakes it…Strycova is the boss!


jalep Says:

Yeah… her routine reminds me of training for ski racing. But I do admire her form (on her toes) jumping the bench. I did reps like that over a lower step but didn’t get to hold onto anything!

I wish more tennis players would post their routines — Strycova runs a lot too.


RZ Says:

Quite a run of dominance by the Czech ladies. Once it got to the final doubles I thought the French team would win. But maybe Garcia was wiped out after her exertions over the 2 days.

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