PRAGUE — Maria Sharapova won to put Russia level with the defending champion Czech Republic at 1-1 in the Fed Cup final on Saturday.
Sharapova defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-4, after two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova overcame a slow start to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.
The reverse singles and doubles are on Sunday at O2 Arena, where security has been stepped up following the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The players and 13,000 spectators observed a minute of silence during the opening ceremony for the victims of the deadly attacks in the French capital. Because of the attacks, Czech President Milos Zeman canceled his visit to the final to attend a meeting of the country's security council.