By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 15, 2015
A blue wave of Czech fans were bouncing up and down in unison in the stands, while Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova were flying high on the court below.
A dramatic day that began with a clash of stars, concluded with the supporting cast stealing the show—lifting the Czech Republic to its fourth Fed Cup final in the last five years with a stirring doubles victory.
Playing just the fourth Fed Cup match of her career, Pliskova defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3, 6-4, in 95 minutes to force the first decisive doubles match in a Fed Cup final since 2011 when the Czechs beat Russia in Moscow.
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Playing her first Fed Cup doubles match, Pliskova partnered Strycova to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina clinching the Czech Republic's pulsating 3-2 Fed Cup final conquest in Prague.
"The girls did it. I'm so happy and proud of them," Czech captain Petr Pala said afterward. "It's just an incredible day for tennis today with a great audience. I think the first match was just excellent.
"The way Karolina handled it today, in singles and doubles, was just phenomenal."
In the marquee match of the weekend, Russian No. 1 Maria Sharapova showed her spirited fight reeling off five consecutives games to close a quality 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Czech No. 1 Petra Kvitova and put Russia one win away from its first Fed Cup championship since 2008.
The pressure shifted to the shoulders of the 23-year-old Prague resident and she answered the calls of the home crowd. With Australian Open and Roland Garros doubles champion Lucie Safarova unavailable, Pliskova stepped in and Strycova stepped it up with dynamic net play.
The Czechs raised their Fed Cup finals record to 9-1.
Strycova and Vesnina are the most experienced doubles players on the court and they took turns pushing aggressive net play to spark their teams at different times.
After an early exchange of breaks, Pliskova thumped through a two-ace game holding to put the host ahead, 3-2. Emitting a double-edged, martial arts style grunt on each serve, Vesnina answered with a love hold to level.
The world No. 11 had issued routine holds until she stumbled in the ninth game. Pliskova showed nerves double-faulting to open. Pavlyuchenkova pounced on a second serve and whipped a backhand return too hot for Strycova to handle for triple break point. Catching Strycova poaching, Vesnina redirected a backhand winner down the line as Russia broke at love for 5-4.
A two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Vesnina knows how to navigate the nervous tension that comes with serving for a set. Aided by an exquisite angled forehand volley from her partner, Vesnina served the Russians to a one-set lead after 35 minutes.
Extending the momentum, the Russians earned two break points in the opening game of the second set, but Pliskova stood firm and denied both to stop the surge.
Asserting herself at net, Strycova began crossing through passing lanes. The Czechs broke Vesnina for a 2-0 second-set advantage. Flying forward Strycova backed up the break for 3-0.
The Russian level dipped. Vesnina badly bungled a routine forehand volley, eventually dropping serve as the Czech pair extended their lead to 5-1. Strycova failed to convert a couple of set points serving for the set at 5-2, but made up for it with some dynamic volleys helping Pliskova close.
The decisive match would be decided by a final set.
Escalating tension thwarted Vesnina. She dropped her head on a double fault into net then dragged a forehand into net donating the opening break to the Czech pair. Pliskova snapped an ace down the middle, backing up the break at love for 2-0.
Pressure-packed exchanges spiked when Vesnina stepped near the service line and blasted a backhand swing volley right at Strycova's head. The Czech ducked the missile, that buzzed her braid, losing her racquet in the process. Strycova, who went sprawling for several volleys, may have endured some battle scars on her knees, but she stayed active at net. Vesnina held strong for 2-3.
Pliskova denied a break point holding in the sixth game and as the horns and shouts of the home crowd grew louder, the Czechs broke again for 5-2. On championship point, Pavlyuchenkova netted a volley, Pliskova and Strycova dropped their racquets and embraced.
The entire Czech team came out on the court for a massive group hug and huddle, a fitting celebration for a concerted team effort.