Spain, Czech Republic 1-1 at Fed Cup

Brno, Czech Republic -- Spain and the Czech Republic were 1-1 Saturday, the first day of their Fed Cup quarterfinal at Brno, Czech Republic.

Petra Kvitova gave the Czechs an early 1-0 advantage over last year's runner-up by beating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 6-4. The overflow crowd came back to Earth, however, when Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives rallied after dropping the first set to down Iveta Benesova 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Sunday, in a doubles match, Benesova and Kveta Peschke meet Spaniards Lourdes Dominguez Lino and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

The scheduled singles matchups will be Benesova-Suarez Navarro and Kvitova-Llagostera Vives.

Spain lost to Russia in last year's Fed Cup finale, but holds a 2-0 all-time advantage against the Czechs.

The winner faces either the United States or Argentina in April's semifinals.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.