Sharapova levels for Russian Federation v Czech Republic

Maria Sharapova has beaten Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-4 to level the Fed Cup final between Russian Federation and the holders Czech Republic in Prague.

The players and 13,000 spectators at Prague's O2 Arena observed a minute of silence during the opening ceremony for the victims of the deadly attacks. The Czech president, Milos Zeman, cancelled his visit to the final to attend a meeting of the country's security council. Sharapova will want to keep her double faults at a minimum, not allowing the big-hitting lefty to gain any free points off the return. "It's obviously tough to see the news, the pictures".

"I didn't serve my best and that's something that I'll definitely need to improve". "I'm really happy that I could win", said Sharapova. "I should have played better".

But the first-set flop turned out a ideal wake-up call for the 25-year-old Czech who converted her sixth break point in game two of the second set and powered past her helpless rival for a 6-1 win.

"I was very nervous from the start, in fact throughout the first set", said Kvitova.

"I missed a few easy balls and it was hard for me to turn it around".

Sharapova was left with the task of earning a first point for the visitors and she was pegged back by Pliskova after breaking to lead 4-2 in set one. Another break came for 4-0 when Pavlyuchenkova double-faulted.

Pliskova blamed her loss on a poor first serve.

"Overall, I wasn't playing bad", Pavlyuchenkova said.

"She started to hit insane strokes and then I was under pressure".

Maria Sharapova eased past Karolina Pliskova to set up a high-stakes battle with Petra Kvitova on Saturday in the Fed Cup final.

"The last match of the season, you have to give everything that you have", Sharapova said.

Sharapova and Kvitova will now go head to head on Sunday in a repeat of the 2011 Wimbledon final. In doubles, the Czech pair of Lucie Safarova andBarbora Strycova will play Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.