MONTE CARLO — Novak Djokovic continued his awe-inspiring run of form to claim the Monte Carlo Masters title Sunday with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych. The Serbian world No. 1 became the first player to clinch the opening three Masters titles of the season after he triumphed in Indian Wells and Miami, notably seeing off nine-times French Open champion Rafa Nadal in Saturday's semifinal. Berdych, however, was no pushover in the final of the first tournament of the European claycourt season, which will culminate at Roland Garros from May 24-June 7. Russians to meet Czechs Russia reached the Fed Cup final Sunday, sealing victory at home over Germany in the last doubles rubber. Elena Vesnina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won 6-2, 6-3 against Andrea Petkovic and Sabine Lisicki to stop a German comeback that had seen them bounce back from 2-0 down in the best-of-five tie after Saturday's play. Russia's win sets up a match with defending champion the Czech Republic, which beat France 3-1. The final will be played in the Czech Republic on Nov. 14 and 15 because Moscow hosted the last meeting between the teams, when the Czechs won the 2011 final 3-2. Earlier Sunday, Angelique Kerber leveled the score at 2-2 when she swept Russia's Pavlyuchenkova away in a 6-1, 6-0 win that lasted just 52 minutes. Petkovic had beaten Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to reduce Russia's lead over Germany to 2-1. In Ostrava, defending champion Czech Republic reached its fourth Fed Cup final in five years by defeating France after Petra Kvitova won the first reverse singles. In a match of two big-hitting players, the fourth-ranked Kvitova beat 29th-ranked Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4 for an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the semifinals. The second reverse singles was not played. In the final doubles, France's pair of Mladenovic and Pauline Parmentier defeated Safarova and Barbora Strycova 0-6, 6-3, 10-8 to cut the overall Czech victory to 3-1. Italy beats US Top-ranked Serena Williams fought back from a set down to win her windy singles match over Sara Errani but couldn't produce another victory in the decisive doubles encounter as Italy beat the United States 3-2 Sunday in a Fed Cup World Group playoff. Brindisi native Flavia Pennetta and Errani defeated Williams and Alison Riske 6-0, 6-3. It was Williams' first career loss in the Fed Cup, dropping to 16-1 — 13-0 in singles and 3-1 in doubles. Earlier, Williams put together an error-filled 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Errani before Pennetta routed 65th-ranked Christina McHale 6-1, 6-1. Italy returns to the World Group and can compete for the Fed Cup trophy next year while the US is relegated to World Group II. Belarus defeats Japan 3-2 Victoria Azarenka and Olga Govortsova won their doubles match on Sunday as Belarus defeated Japan 3-2 in the Fed Cup World Group II playoff. Azarenka and Govortsova beat Shuko Aoyama and Ayumi Morita 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive fifth tie at Ariake Coliseum. Azarenka defeated Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-3 in the first reverse singles to give Belarus a 2-1 lead but Japan pulled even when Morita outlasted Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4. The result means Belarus will return to World Group II in 2016 for just the third time ever, while Japan will remain in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I. Former top-ranked Azarenka also won her opening singles match Saturday. — Agencies
