PRAGUE (AP)—Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will lead the Czech Republic team in next month's Fed Cup final against Germany.
Karolina Pliskova, the 22-year-old rising star of Czech tennis, was named to the preliminary squad for the first time. Pliskova defeated Camila Giorgi of Italy in the final of the Generali Ladies on Sunday for her second WTA title this year to reach a career high ranking of No. 27.
Lucie Safarova is also in contention for singles, while doubles specialists Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka have also been selected for the Nov. 8-9 series on an indoor hardcourt in Prague.
Czech coal Petr Pala still has to narrow his team to four players.
The Czechs, who beat Germany in their previous three encounters, won the Fed Cup in 2011 and '12.