AP Updated 12:04 PM EST Nov 10, 2018 PRAGUE (AP) — Barbora Strycova rallied from a set down to give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over defending champion United States in the Fed Cup final on Saturday. Playing in the last Fed Cup fixture of her career, the 32-year-old Strycova overcame an early scare to defeat Sofia Kenin 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4. The American teenager was making her Fed Cup debut on the indoor hardcourt at Prague’s O2 Arena. Strycova served out the match with a backhand winner at the net on her first match point to improve to 11-7 in Fed Cup singles. “I’m so happy that I could win today in front of such a crowd,” Strycova said. “It’s funny because it’s her (Kenin) first one, and this is my last one, so for me it was a lot of emotions.” The 33rd-ranked Czech broke her 52nd-ranked opponent in the opening game of the decisive set to take control with a 2-0 lead. The 19-year-old Kenin looked nervous in front of the Czech crowd, serving three double faults to trail 5-2. But Strycova failed to serve the match out as Kenin broke back. Both players made 32 unforced errors and the American had 23 winners — two more than her opponent — but Strycova made her experience count in the decisive points. “For my Fed Cup debut, I was pretty nervous but I was able to handle it once I stepped on the court,” Kenin said. “The… [Read full story]
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