OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) β Defending champion Czech Republic took a commanding 2-0 lead over France in the Fed Cup World Group semifinals after Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova won the opening singles matches on Saturday.
Safarova saved five match points before beating Caroline Garcia 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-1 and Kvitova returned from almost a two-month break to defeat Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 6-4.
The hosts are one win away from the final against Germany or Russia in November to have a chance to win their fourth title in five years. France is playing in its first semis since 2007.
The reverse singles and doubles are planned for Sunday.
Fourth-ranked Czech Petra Kvitova, who last played on Feb 26 in Doha, Qatar before taking a rest, broke Mladenovic to go 5-4 up in the second set before serving out the match on the second match point.
