Keys sets up Fed Cup final for US with Czech Republic

PARIS: Madison Keys predicted “a crazy” Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic after seeing off Pauline Parmentier to fire the United States past France in the semi-final.

Keys, 13th in the world, defeated the 122nd-ranked Parmentier 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to earn the defending champions a 3-1 win in Aix-en-Provence.

Waiting for the US in the November final are the Czechs, who swept past Germany 4-1 in the other semi-final in Stuttgart.

The US match winner Keys, who battled back after trailing Parmentier 4-1 in the first set, said: “It feels amazing, but not for me – but to do that for this team and help us back to the final.

“I knew (Pauline) would play well, she was so good against Sloane (Stephens) yesterday.

“I love playing in atmospheres like this, even if they are not all cheering for you it still makes for a great game. It is going to be a crazy final.”

US Open champion Stephens had put the US on the verge of the final after brushing aside Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-0 in Sunday’s first rubber.

“She (Stephens) had an answer for everything,” shrugged the world No. 20.

Earlier, Petra Kvitova put the Czech Republic into a sixth Fed Cup final in eight years following her 6-2, 6-2 win against Angelique Kerber.

After the Czechs had surged 2-0 up on Saturday, Julia Goerges had given hosts Germany a brief lifeline by beating Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2 before Kvitova’s decisive win.

“I am very relieved. I was getting nervous before this game,” admitted Kvitova after the 30th win of her Fed Cup career.

“We had a great position from yesterday, I think Julia played a really good match.

The Czechs, who have home advantage over the Americans in the Nov 10-11 final, had won the title three times in a row until the US dethroned them last year.