Fed Cup: The Czechs become the six-time champions

The Czech Republicans lift their sixth Fed Cup title in the past eight years.  Katerina Siniakova clinched a 3-0 win over the United States and a victory against Sofia Kenin. Siniakova tussled to save two match points and was emotional after her match. She fought for about four hours to clinch a 7-5 5-7 7-5 against Kenin. Her invincible win gave the Czech team an invincible 3-0 lead in the Czech capital, Prague.

Also, Siniakova and Barbora Strycova won Saturday’s opening-day singles matches. “It was an unbelievable match for me,” Siniakova said. “It was up and down, with nerves. I’m extremely happy that I won. I thank all who came for their support. It was felt. It was a long match, a lot of points, a lot of effort, long points,” Kenin said. “We fought hard till the end. It’s disappointing for me because I had like two match points but couldn’t turn things around. But I fought my hardest and I did everything I could.”

The Americans were anticipating their to bounce back from a 2-0 deficit in a Fed Cup final. However, the 19-year-old, Kenin failed to maintain her dominance on her match against Siniakova. The 2018 Fed Cup final remarked the two most successful countries set up a clash in the final in almost more than three decades.

Though the Czechs and the Americans did not have their best players the teams were quite proficient. Moreover, it was the first victory for the Czech Republican team (since their nation was created after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993) over the United States.  Despite losing the finals, the US captain Kathy Rinaldi was proud of her squad. “We didn’t get the result that we wanted but nobody can say we didn’t give all out there,” Rinaldi said. “That match today, both girls, both players were incredible,” she said. “I’m so honoured to have been part of that match, they really fought hard, the points were incredible, it’s just something I never forget.”