PRAGUE (AP) β Maria Sharapova came from a set down to defeat Petra Kvitova in the first reverse singles on Sunday to give Russia a 2-1 lead over defending champion Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final.
In a matchup of two top 10 players, the fourth-ranked Sharapova rallied to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over the sixth-ranked Kvitova to put Russia one win away from its first Fed Cup title since 2008.
In the second reverse singles, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Karolina Pliskova who needs to win to keep the Czechs in the best-of-five series.
The tie is played at Prague’s O2 Arena, where security has been stepped up following the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Sharapova went 5-2 up in the final set before closing out with a forehand winner.
