PRAGUE — Reigning champion the Czech Republic was tied 1-1 with Spain in their first-round Fed Cup tie as number-one players Karolina Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza won their opening rubbers Saturday.
World No. 7 Muguruza, the French Open champion, beat 17th-ranked Barbora Strycova 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 in the eastern Czech steel hub of Ostrava to put Spain ahead.
Third-ranked Pliskova then leveled the tie after seeing off world number 70 Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 7-5.
The Czechs are seeking their fourth straight Fed Cup title after winning five of the last six editions of the team competition. Spain last won the trophy in 1998.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Pliskova will face Muguruza and Strycova is due to take on Arruabarrena.
Czechs Lucie Safarova and Katerina Siniakova were drawn for the potentially decisive doubles rubber against Sara Sorribes Tormo and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, but the line-up is most likely to change.
Netherlands back on track
Kiki Bertens rallied from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, drawing the Dutch squad level at 1-1 in their Fed Cup World Group encounter Saturday.
Bertens, who is 24th in the WTA rankings, won 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in her first ever meeting with the Belarussian 18-year-old in 2 hours 22 minutes.
Earlier, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, ranked 128th, put Belarus into the lead as she battled back from a set down to beat Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. — Agencies
