Kvitova set to lead Czechs against France in Fed Cup semi
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ostrava, Czech Republic (SportsNetwork.com) - Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will lead the reigning Fed Cup champion and host Czech Republic in this weekend's semifinal against Germany in Ostrava.
The best-of-five tie will get underway Saturday with opening singles rubbers, as 13th-ranked Czech Lucie Safarova will take on No. 29 rising Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia and the world No. 4 Kvitova will encounter 58th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic on an indoor hardcourt at Cez Arena.
Sunday's reverse singles will pit Kvitova against Garcia and Safarova versus Mladenovic, while a doubles rubber tentatively has a Czech tandem of Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova taking on a French duo of Alize Cornet and Pauline Parmentier.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The two-time Wimbledon titlist Kvitova is 23-6 in her career Fed Cup singles matches.
The Czechs, captained by Petr Pala, are trying to reach their fourth Fed Cup final in five years.
Two-time champion France, skipped by former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, is 3-2 all-time against the Czech Republic, with all three wins coming in their last three meetings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The winner in Ostrava will face the Germany-Russia victor in the World Group final in November.
The high-flying Czechs topped the Germans in last year's final in Prague to capture a third championship in four years.