FED CUP FINAL 2014: Kvitova and Safarova...

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, NOVEMBER 2014, 

Petra Kvitova will open Czech Republic’s bid for a third Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title in four years with a challenging test against Germany’s Andrea Petkovic. Friday’s draw, held at City Hall in Prague, handed the world No. 4 a fierce opening bout against a player who has defeated her on four of their seven previous meetings – on each occasion in straight sets. Lucie Safarova will then follow against Angelique Kerber in the second singles rubber on Saturday. 
 Ten spots separate Kvitova and Petkovic in the rankings but, while the big-hitting Czech is sure to relish the fast indoor surface, Petkovic is arguably in the greater form coming into the Final. The German bounced back from a difficult couple of months to win the WTA’s season-ending title in Sofia last week, and will be in confident mood ahead of her clash against Kvitova having beaten her in their last two meetings in Toronto and Cincinnati back in 2011. “It’s going to be a really tough match. I don’t expect anything, but I’m ready for it,” said Petkovic. World No. 17 Safarova will need to defeat Kerber for the first time when the two meet in the second singles rubber. 
Kerber won their only previous meeting 62 76(3) on the indoor hard courts of Paris two years ago.