BRNO, Czech Republic(AP) Petra Kvitova has defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the opening singles match to give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup semifinals.
The 19-year-old Kvitova broke her opponent for a 3-1 lead in the first set on Saturday when Mattek-Sands double-faulted, and again in the ninth game to take the set.
The 39th-ranked Mattek-Sands, making her Fed Cup debut, fought back in the second set. But in the tiebreaker, Kvitova relied on her solid serve to take a 5-0 lead.
In the second singles match on Saturday, Iveta Benesova will play American Alexa Glatch, also a Fed Cup rookie.