PRAGUE — The Czech Republic defended their Fed Cup title on Sunday as Karolina Pliskova became the home team's hero with a starring performance in their thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Russia.
Pliskova not only won her singles rubber to tie the match at 2-2 but then returned to the court after just a 30-minute break to help secure another comeback victory in the final set of the deciding doubles.
It enabled the Czechs to celebrate their fourth Fed Cup triumph in five years in the event regarded as the World Cup of women's tennis -- and they succeeded despite Russian star Maria Sharapova winning both her singles matches over the weekend.