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Canadian women swept by top-ranked Czechs in Fed Cup play

The Czech Republic won two matches Sunday to complete a 4-0 sweep of Canada in Fed Cup play at the Agrofert Arena in Prostejov. Canada will fall to the World Group II level for 2020 while the Czechs advanced to the World Group.

Injured Bianca Andreescu, Genie Bouchard were unavailable for tennis tourney

The Canadian Press ·
Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski, pictured here, and Toronto's Sharon Fichman dropped a 7-6 (4), 7-5 decision to Barbora Krejcikova and Marie Bouzkova in doubles play Sunday at the Fed Cup in the Czech Republic. Canada was swept in four matches. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press/File)

The Czech Republic won two matches Sunday to complete a 4-0 sweep of Canada in Fed Cup play at the Agrofert Arena in Prostejov.

Marketa Vondrousova clinched the overall victory with a 6-3, 6-4 singles win over Vancouver's Rebecca Marino.

"We were neck and neck both sets," Marino said. "I'm really proud of the effort I put out there."

Marino, who made a comeback to the sport last year, was making her first Fed Cup appearance since 2011.
Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski and Toronto's Sharon Fichman dropped a 7-6 (4), 7-5 decision to Barbora Krejcikova and Marie Bouzkova in doubles play. The scheduled singles rubber between Karolina Muchova and Leylah Annie Fernandez of Laval, Que., was not played.

The host Czechs posted two singles victories on Saturday and did not drop a set over the weekend. Canada will fall to the World Group II level for 2020 while the Czechs advanced to the World Group.

"I am very pleased with the way Rebecca fought today, her game improved from yesterday," said Canadian captain Heidi El Tabakh. "If she can keep up that level of play, she will continue to move up the rankings and get good results. This weekend was a great learning experience for all of our players, especially for the young Leylah. She proved that she can hang with the top players and I think she will accomplish great things in the years to come.

"Today's doubles match featured some high quality tennis and I am incredibly proud of how well our girls played together, despite not having teamed up for a little while. Overall I am pleased with the way the team competed this weekend and I am already looking forward to our next tie."

The top-ranked Czechs, who have won the Fed Cup six times over the last eight years, did not call on top singles players like Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova for this tie.

"We got the job done," Vondrousova said. "I'm very happy. We have a new team, new girls. I think we could have four teams maybe, so many girls around 100 in the world."

Bianca Andreescu (shoulder) and Eugenie Bouchard (undisclosed) were not available for 11th-ranked Canada.
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