tennis

France bids to upset two-time champ Czechs in Fed Cup final

Published Nov. 11, 2016 9:40 a.m. ET

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STRASBOURG, France (AP) France's Kristina Mladenovic will open play against world No. 6 Karolina Pliskova in the Fed Cup final, as the hosts look to break the Czech Republic's stranglehold on the event this weekend.

The Czechs are bidding for a fifth title in six years on an indoor hard court at Rhenus Sport arena in Strasbourg.

They won the most recent tie between them in the semifinals last year, and are the overwhelming favorites to become the first team to win three consecutive Fed Cups since Spain from 1993-95.

Caroline Garcia will take on two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the second singles.

Sunday features the reverse singles and doubles.

France has reached the final for the first time since 2005, and will be bidding for a third title.

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