Czechs repeat as Fed Cup champions

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Lucie Safarova dropped just two games Sunday in clinching a second-consecutive Fed Cup title for the Czech Republic.

Safarova blitzed Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-1, taking nearly two-third of the points in the match. That result, combined with singles wins by Safarova and Petra Kvitova Saturday put the Czechs up 3-1 in the best-of five championship series.

Ana Ivanovic kept Serbia's hopes going in Sunday's first match with a 76-3, 7-5 victory over Kvitova, who had been 9-0 in Fed Cup matches in 2011 and 2012 to that point.

Ivanovic had Kvitova on the defensive much of the day, forcing 17 break-point chances and cashing in four while winning 72 percent of the points on serve.

Safarova, who beat Ivanovic 6-4, 6-3 Saturday, opened Sunday's match with a break against Jankovic and was up 4-0 before giving up a game. Jankovic saw a trainer between sets and didn't seem completely fit. She had the second set at 1-1, however, when Safarova truly took over, winning four consecutive games for the match and title.

The Czechs defeated Russia 3-2 in 2011 for their first Fed Cup title since 1988 when the country was part of Czechoslovakia. Serbia was playing in its first Fed Cup final.