Kvitova helps Czechs pick up Fed Cup split vs. Germany

BRNO, Czech Republic -- The Czech Republic and Germany split the opening singles Saturday in their Fed Cup quarterfinal after both teams' No. 1 player lost her match.

Anna-Lena Groenefeld upset Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2 in the opening match to give Germany a 1-0 lead before Petra Kvitova defeated Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-4 to even the tie.

The 19-year-old Kvitova broke Petkovic for a decisive 4-3 lead in the first set on indoor hardcourt at the Brno Exhibition Center, and then raced out to a 4-0 lead in the second.

The 49th-ranked Petkovic fought back to win the next three games, but the Czech converted her first match point to seal the win in 1 hour, 25 minutes.

"I served well and my game was fine today," Kvitova said. "It's 1-1 but I hope we'll make the two other points tomorrow," she said.

In the opening singles match, the 66th-ranked Groenefeld broke for a 3-1 lead and added another break in the eighth game to take the first set.

The 46th-ranked Safarova continued to struggle in the second set and was broken in the second game. She went on double-fault on Groenefeld's first match point.

"I played very well today and I'm very happy with my performance," said Groenefeld, who is 2-2 against Safarova. "We knew each other pretty well, and today I really executed my game plan. I was pretty pleased with it."

Safarova had struggled with a fever at the beginning of the week but recovered in time for the tie.

"I felt fine before the match but it was not my game for 100 percent," Safarova said. "I was under pressure."

In Sunday's reverse singles, Safarova is set to play Petkovic before Kvitova takes on Groenefeld.

In the final doubles match, the Czech team of Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke will face Kristina Barrois and Tatjana Malek.

The winner of the best-of-5 series will face Italy or Ukraine in the April 24-25 semifinals.