PRAGUE—German captain Barbara Rittner announces that Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic will play singles in the Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic, which begins Saturday in Prague.
Germany could have played hard-hitting Sabine Lisicki instead of Petkovic. The Czech Republic, led by Petra Kvitova, has put down a very fast hard court for the tie.
"Actually for my team for Angelique and Andrea are set for Saturday as long as nothing happens and that is how we start," Rittner said.
Both the Czech and German teams have been hitting indoors in the O2 Arena and admitted the court is playing very fast. Czech captain Petr Pala said that he was happy to do it, as Kvitova likes to swing away on fast indoor courts. "I expect it to be fast for the Germans, from us," Pala said with a laugh.
Rittner says that she knows that the courts are quick but, "it [also suits] our game pretty well and we are very comfortable. We are playing very close and it will be tough and ready for it.”
Rittner added that she picked Kerber and Petkovic because they haven’t lost in their previous Fed Cup ties this year.
"Fed Cup has so many emotions this year and they have had been so confident in singles," Rittner said.
Lisicki says that, nevertheless, she is happy to be there. "It feels natural, I think everybody is playing great and coming here, [it] is one team and that's one weapon," said the German No. 3.
Petkovic added that there will be quite a party if Germany pulls the upset over the two-time champs.
“I think there will be a lot of dancing,” Petkovic laughed. “Probably drunk dancing after the title! But I think we are just all very proud to be here in the finals and no matter how it ends we will be very proud of what we have achieved. We will try to win it, and then some craziness will come out, I guess!”