Ostrava, Czech Republic: Defending champion Czech Republic took a 2-0 lead over Australia in their Fed Cup first-round series after Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova won their opening matches.
Kvitova defeated Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (2), 6-3 before Safarova edged Sam Stosur 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4).
The Czechs are one win away from the semifinals against Italy or the United States.
Stosur had a 4-1 lead and failed to serve it out at 5-3, despite three set points. She had 10 double faults in the set, which took 1 hour, 23 minutes.
The Australian failed to serve out the second set at 6-5, and Safarova converted her second match point.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Kvitova plays Stosur and Safarova takes on Gajdosova.
In the doubles, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka will play the Australian pair of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua, who reached the final at the Australian Open.
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