modern sport

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The Czech Republic reached their fourth Fed Cup final in five years when Petra Kvitova beat Caroline Garcia 6-4 6-4 to help the holders beat France 3-1 on Sunday.

They will face Russia, who beat Germany 3-2 in the other semi-final, in the Nov 14-15 final.

Lucie Safarova earned the first Czech point by beating Garcia 4-6 7-6(1) 6-1 on Saturday after saving five match points in front of a boisterous crowd at Ostrava's CEZ arena.

Kvitova swept aside Kristina Mladenovic 6-3 6-4 to make it 2-0.

World number four Kvitova was barely troubled on Sunday by Garcia, who threatened a second-set comeback when she bagged three games in a row after falling 5-1 down.

But Kvitova was just too good and wrapped up victory with a forehand winner to give her team an unassailable lead.

Mladenovic and Pauline Parmentier then beat Safarova and Barbora Strycova 0-6 6-3 10-8 in a doubles with nothing at stake.

"Kvitova was well above our players," France captain Amelie Mauresmo said.

"Let's face it, their four players were stronger than our number one on paper."