The Czech Republic were pushed all the way by France before victory in a fifth rubber match saw them win their fifth Fed Cup title in the last six years.
Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova won the deciding doubles encounter 7-5 7-5 to ensure Czech domination of the competition continues after a memorable Sunday's action in Strasbourg.
Caroline Garcia, who beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on the opening day, put the home side 2-1 ahead with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Pliskova.
Both teams made changes for the fourth rubber, France captain Amelie Mauresmo replacing Kristina Mladenovic with Alize Cornet and Czech captain Petr Pala bringing in world number 20 Strycova to replace Kvitova, who has been struggling with a foot injury.
And Strycova ensured the tie fittingly went to a decisive fifth rubber with a 6-2 7-6 (7/4) victory, the 30-year-old twice failing to serve out for the match before taking it in the tie-break.
France, looking to win their first Fed Cup title since 2003 and prevent the Czech Republic lifting the crown for a third successive year, selected Garcia and Mladenovic for the decider, with the holders going with Pliskova and Strycova.
But in front of a partisan home crowd, Garcia and Mladenovic had no answer to their opponents in a pulsating decider, with Pliskova breaking in the penultimate game before a hold of serve secured yet more success in the Fed Cup.
Source: PA
