PRAGUE — The Czech Republic retained the Fed Cup after Lucie Safarova thumped Serbia's Jelena Jankovic to give the home team an unbeatable 3-1 lead. Left-hander Safarova, the world No. 17, broke Jankovic's opening serve before winning 6-1, 6-1 in front of a 14,000 capacity crowd at Prague's O2 Arena. She had won only one of their previous six encounters. “It is impossible to describe how great this feeling is, because it is at home,” Safarova said. “I played unbelievably well. This was one of those days when everything you touch works out well. I really wanted to win and I am very happy.” “Jelena is a great player but I was very focused and solid, it was one of my best matches ... one of my best five games.” Safarova's form contrasted with her two losses in last year's final against Russia and compensated for Petra Kvitova, who had stumbled in her return singles match earlier Sunday. Kvitova lost 6-3, 7-5 to Ana Ivanovic, who kept alive Serbia's hopes of winning their debut Fed Cup. World No. 8 Kvitova had been expected to hand the Czechs an unbeatable 3-0 lead, but former French Open winner Ivanovic produced an inspired display. The 24-year old Serb took the first point for Serbia with a forehand winner on her third match point. “I knew today I would be playing better and I started swinging from the beginning and worked well for me. (Kvitova) started swinging again (in the second set), getting few winners down the lines, but I managed to stay calm,” she said. Kvitova said she had felt healthy after but lacked power. “I did not have a lot of energy. At the beginning I was being much too hectic, I wanted to take the final point in this tie,” she said. “Ana played very well, aggressively, I only could play a few shots in rallies, that is why I made errors and she took the winners.” The Fed Cup title is the Czechs seventh overall including the former Czechoslovakia the Czechs are hoping to complete a double when the men's team take on Spain in the Davis Cup final later this month. Serena beats Venus In Johannesburg, Serena Williams promised to avenge an earlier loss to Venus and delivered Sunday, beating her older sister 6-3, 6-4 in South Africa for just her fourth win in 13 exhibition matches between the American siblings. The No. 3-ranked Serena, the current Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion, broke once in each set to get one back after losing in straight sets to Venus in Nigeria Friday. As with their exhibition in Lagos, Venus — in an eye-catching maroon and white dress — laughed and joked and played up to the crowd all through the contest at Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg. Serena was serious in the first set but lightened up in the second, rallying with a delighted ball girl at one point while Venus went off court for a toilet break. – Agencies
