Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova won a match apiece as the first day of the Fed Cup final between Czech Republic and Russia ended all square at 1-1.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova had rallied from one set down against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to claim a 2-6 6-1 6-1 triumph and ensure the Czechs went 1-0 up in the final in Prague.
However, the defending champions were pegged back straight away as world number four Sharapova swept aside Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-4 to leave the final nicely poised ahead of the second day.
Sharapova and Kvitova will now go head to head on Sunday in a repeat of the 2011 Wimbledon final.
"Last match of the season, you have to give everything that you have and I know both of us will," Sharapova told FedCup.com.
"That's the type of match you want to see in a Fed Cup final."
Sharapova was playing in her first Fed Cup final and against Pliskova for the first time, and she added: "I felt like I was nervous throughout the whole match and made some errors at inappropriate times, but overall I'm really happy I could win."
Source: PA
