Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova handed holders Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Australia after the first day of their Fed Cup World Group tie in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Saturday. In the first rubber, Kvitova, the Czech number one and world number eight, beat Australia's 168-ranked Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 in an hour and 35 minutes. Safarova, the world number 18, then snatched two tie-breaks for a 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) win over ninth-ranked Samantha Stosur in two hours and 28 minutes.

Feb 9 (Infostrada Sports) - Latest from the Fed Cup World Group Quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and Australia on Saturday 1-Czech Republic lead Australia 2-0 On Saturday Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat Samantha Stosur (Australia) 7-6(6) 7-6(4) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Jarmila Gajdosova (Australia) 7-6(2) 6-3

Petra Kvitova of holders Czech Republic will take on Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova in the opening singles rubber of the Fed Cup World Group first-round tie in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Saturday, following Friday's draw. After the first rubber pitting the Czech number one against Australia's number two, Czech number two Lucie Safarova will face Australia's number one Samantha Stosur. "I'll try to make things easier for Lucie," said Kvitova, the world number eight, who led the Czech Republic to two straight Fed Cup victories in 2011 and 2012.

Holders Czech Republic will take on Australia in the Fed Cup's first round in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava at the weekend, with eyes on a treble and concerns about the form of their top singles players. For world number eight Petra Kvitova and 18th-ranked Lucie Safarova, two left-handers who led the Czechs to their two straight Fed Cup victories in 2011 and 2012, the star moment this year was reaching the Paris quarter-finals last week.