Serena loses in return; U.S. coasts at Fed Cup

The Czech Republic beat Switzerland 3-1 to advance to its 10th straight Fed Cup semifinals, and Serena Williams played her first competitive match in more than a year as defending champion United States defeated the Netherlands 3-1.

The Czechs, Fed Cup champions in five of the past seven years, travel to Germany, which made its first semifinals since 2015 after beating 2017 finalist Belarus 3-2 in Minsk. The U.S. goes to France, which defeated Belgium 3-2.

In Asheville, North Carolina, Serena Williams lined up alongside her sister Venus Williams in a doubles match and lost 6-2, 6-3 to Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs.

Motor sports: At Pomona, Calif., defending Top Fuel season champion Brittany Force was hospitalized but escaped serious injury in a wall-banging crash in the first round of the finals in the season-opening Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. Doug Kalitta won in Top Fuel, Matt Hagan in Funny Car and Bo Butner in Pro Stock.