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Safarova opens Fed Cup for Czechs against Errani

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic will face Sara Errani of defending champion Italy in the opening singles of their Fed Cup semifinal on Saturday.

The 26th-ranked Safarova and the 11th-ranked Errani have met twice at WTA tournaments and are 1-1.

No.6-ranked Petra Kvitova will play the second singles for the host against the 54th-ranked Camila Giorgi.

After Sunday's reverse singles, Klara Koukalova and doubles specialist Andrea Hlavackova are expected to team up against the Italian pair of Karin Knapp and Roberta Vinci.

The winner faces Australia or Germany in November's final.

The two have won the last five Fed Cups: The Czechs in 2011 and 2012, and Italy in 2009, 2010 and last year.