Bratislava, Slovak Republic - Petra Kvitova won the first reverse singles match on Sunday to help the Czech Republic clinch a victory over neighboring Slovak Republic in the Fed Cup quarterfinals.
Kvitova, a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open and winner of the tuneup tournament in Brisbane, handled Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-2 in 68 minutes, recording four breaks of serve while firing 31 winners.
The Czechs advanced to the semifinals for the third straight year and will next face either Belgium or the United States. Belgium currently leads the Americans 2-0 in Antwerp.
Lucie Safarova and Kvitova both posted straight set wins as the Czech Republic swept the opening singles on Saturday.
Safarova is battling Jana Cepelova in the fourth rubber, while the doubles match is slated to feature Kveta Peschke and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova for the Czechs against the hosts tandem of Hantuchova and Magdalena Rybarikova.
The Czechs have won all four meetings in Fed Cup play since Czechoslovakia split. Led by the legendary Martina Navratilova, Czechoslovakia won five Fed Cup titles, but neither the Czech Republic nor Slovak Republic has won the championship since becoming separate nations.
