Czech Republic takes 2-1 lead over US in Fed Cup

Lucie Safarova beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-1 Sunday to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup semifinals.

The Czech Republic needs just one more win in the best-of-five series to reach its first Fed Cup final since the country came into existence after the break up of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

"It would be fantastic to reach the final," Safarova said. "We need three points and I believe that we'll make it."

Czechoslovakia won five Fed Cup titles, the last in 1988.

Safarova broke Mattek-Sands in the opening game of the first set and again in the ninth when she converted her …