Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova celebrates with the team after she won her match against Germany's Angelique Kerber during the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) - Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova gave the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Germany in their Fed Cup semifinal with dominant displays in their opening rubbers on Saturday.
Kvitova defeated Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-2, before Pliskova followed up with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber in the World Group.
"No one expected it," Pliskova said after the German hosts failed to win a set.
Goerges lasted only an hour with 23 unforced errors against the 10th-ranked Kvitova, who dropped just two points on her serve in the second set and converted four of five break points.
It was Kvitova's 29th singles win in the Fed Cup.
Pliskova served 15 aces as she subdued the home fans in Stuttgart.
The 10-time champion Czechs have a 7-1 head-to-head record over their hosts. The Germans' only win came in 1987 when Steffi Graf was part of the team that beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the World Group semifinals in Vancouver.
Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova celebrates a point in her match with Germany's Angelique Kerber, at the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova serves a ball to Julia Goerges during a single match of the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Germany's Julia Goerges returns a ball to Petra Kvitova during a single match of the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova returns a shot to Julia Goerges during a single match of the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Germany's Julia Goerges reacts after a missed chance in her match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Germany's Angelique Kerber returns a shot to Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova during the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Germany's Angelique Kerber returns a shot to Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova during the tennis Fed Cup semifinal between Germany and Czech Republic in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Thomas Niedermueller/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press