Defending champion Czechs held 1-1 by Swiss in Fed Cup semi
LUCERNE, Switzerland (AP) Two-time defending champion Czech Republic was held 1-1 by Switzerland after threatening to dominate the opening singles rubbers in their Fed Cup semifinal.
After 33rd-ranked Barbora Strycova routed No. 17 Timea Bacsinszky 6-0, 6-2 Saturday, Karolina Pliskova led 129th-ranked Viktorija Golubic by one set and a break up in the second set.
Golubic, making her Fed Cup singles debut in the absence of 10th-ranked teammate Belinda Bencic, fought back for an unlikely 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Golubic clinched against No. 18 Pliskova with a running backhand passing shot down the line.
Bacsinszky will open Sunday's reverse singles against Pliskova at the indoor Messe arena, and is scheduled to partner Martina Hingis in doubles if a fifth rubber is needed.
Hingis played 18 years ago when Switzerland last reached the final.
