The Czech Republic advanced to the Fed Cup final Sunday, beating Belgium in the deciding doubles for a 3-2 victory in their best-of-five tie.
Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova topped Yanina Wickmayer and Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-4 to put the Czechs in their first final since they won the title as Czechoslovakia in 1988. They will play Russia on Nov. 5-6.
The teams split the reverse singles Sunday, with Petra Kvitova defeating Yanina Wickmayer 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead before Kirsten Flipkens evened it at 2-2 by beating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-3.
The Belgians could not make up for the absence of the injured Kim Clijsters and the retirement this year of Justine Henin.
The Czechs advanced to the finals after losing in the semifinals the last two years.
