Canadians sweep singles to move up in Fed Cup

MONTREAL— Canada secured a spot in the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II on Sunday after a pair of singles victories against Kazakhstan.

The Canadians won the playoff over Kazakhstan 3-2 and return to World Group II for the first time since February 2016.

“I am very proud of the tennis that our girls played and their attitude throughout the weekend,” said Canadian captain Sylvain Bruneau. “The girls showed that they can hold their own against some of the best players in the world. It is mission accomplished for us this weekend.”

Francoise Abanda of Montreal started the day with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Yulia Putintseva before Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., toppled Yaroslava Shvedova 7-6(1), 6-4.

Putintseva double faulted in the first set to give Abanda three break points which she converted. Abanda, 20, took the momentum from her first set into the second and went up an early break before going on to capture the match. Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva and Kamila Kerimbayeva beat Gabriela Dabrowski and Katherine Sebov 6-7(6), 7-6(6), 10-5 in a doubles match to end the day.

The U.S. beat three-time defending champion Czech Republic 3-2 to reach the Fed Cup final for the first time in seven years. The Americans will face Belarus, which won its semifinal against Switzerland, for the championship Nov. 11- 12.