Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova gave holders the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over France in the Fed Cup semi-finals after the opening rubbers yesterday.

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On the hardcourt of the CEZ Arena in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, world number 13 and Czech number two Safarova took an hour and 58 minutes to beat 29th-ranked Caroline Garcia 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-1.

World number four Kvitova then saw off 58th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 21 minutes to take the Czechs within a point of the finals.

Today Kvitova faces Garcia before, if necessary, Safarova faces Mladenovic and a final doubles match. In the other semi-final, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova battled back from a set down to defeat Sabine Lisicki as Russia took a comfortable 2-0 lead over Germany.

Svetlana Kuznetsova earlier beat Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-4 at the red clay court of Adler Arena as four-time champions Russia edged closer towards the final.

The 23-year-old Pavlyuchenkova won 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in two hours 28 minutes to record her second win over Lisicki in as many meetings.

“It was a very hard match,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “I feel worn out but I’m really happy to give my team this win today. After winning the second set in the tiebreak I was stoked and it helped me to start the deciding set pretty well.”

Russia, who are without late withdrawal Maria Sharapova, need just a point today as the singles matches reverse.