Czech-mate for Swiss in semis

Karolina Pliskova and Lucie Hradecka secured the Czech Republic a fifth Fed Cup final appearance in six years with victory in the deciding doubles against Switzerland on Sunday.

Waiting for the defending champions in the November 12-13 final will be France, who edged the Netherlands in their semifinal in Trelaze.

The semi-final in Lucerne, level at 1-1 overnight, went down to the wire after Pliskova’s comfortable win over Timea Bacsinszky before a stunning 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 comeback win from Viktorija Golubic against Barbora Strycova.

But Switzerland’s dream of making their first final since 1998 was ended when Pliskova and Hradecka despatched Golubic and Martina Hingis 6-2, 6-2 to take the tie 3-2.

France, all square with the Dutch at 1-1 after Saturday’s singles, progressed in similar fashion to the Czechs to make their first final since 2005.

Skippered by Amelie Mauresmo the French went into the tie on claycourt against surprise semifinalists the Netherlands as clear favourites.

But the Dutch took a 2-1 lead courtesy of Kiki Bertens’s 7-5, 6-4 win over Kristina Mladenovic in Sunday’s opening match.

Caroline Garcia defeated Arantxa Rus 6-3, 6-4 to get the hosts back level, and then Garcia teamed up with Maldenovic in the concluding doubles against Bertens and Richel Hogenkamp to clinch the tie 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Czech captain Petr Pala paid tribute to his team. “It was sensational the way they played. The key was the depth of our team today,” he said.