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STUTTGART — Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova rallied to outlast Julia Goerges 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 Saturday, giving defending champ Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Germany in the first round of the Fed Cup.
In the first match of the best-of-five series, Iveta Benesova also had to come from behind to beat Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Goerges was two points from winning, leading 5-4 and 30-0 before falling to the second-ranked Kvitova in 2 hours, 21 minutes. Kvitova is on a 26-0 run indoors.
Benesova served two aces to save two break points while trailing 3-2 in the second set and held serve.
"That was very important," Benesova said. "It gave me a push and I stayed in the match."
The series will be decided Sunday with two reverse singles and a doubles match at Porsche Arena. Germany's 10th-ranked Andrea Petkovic was ruled out with a lower back injury.
This is the seventh meeting between the countries, with the Czechs leading 5-1. The series winner will play Ukraine or Italy in the semifinals April 21-22.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects number of times nations have met. Updates with Kvitova's indoor record)
