LONDON: The Czech Republic booked a Fed Cup final against Germany at home in November after beating defending champions Italy 4-0 in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Sunday.

The Czechs advanced to their third Fed Cup finals in four years after Petra Kvitova won the first reverse singles.

Kvitova, the world number six and a former Wimbledon champion, first saw off 20th-ranked Roberta Vinci 6-3, 7-5 in an hour-and-a-half to hand the Czechs an unassailable 3-0 lead at the CEZ Arena.

In the final doubles, Andrea Hlavackova teamed up with Klara Koukalova to overcome Camila Giorgi and Karin Knapp 6-2, 5-7, 11-9 to make it 4-0.

“It will be great to play the final at home,” Kvitova said. “We have an excellent team, it’s not just about one player.”

Earlier in Brisbane, Germany sealed their place in the final by beating Australia after Angelique Kerber clinched the victory with a three-set win over Sam Stosur on the hard court at Pat Rafter Arena.

Kerber overcame a slow start to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-4, giving Germany an unbeatable 3-0 lead and its first Fed Cup final berth since 1992, when Steffi Graf and Anke Huber starred in the team which defeated Spain.

The Australian pair of Casey Dellacqua and Ashleigh Barty prevented a wipe-out when they claimed the “dead” doubles rubber 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 10-2 over Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld for the tie to finish 3-1. Dellacqua’s singles match with Andrea Petkovic was not played.

“It’s a very special moment for me and the whole team,” Kerber said. “After 1992 we are now in the final and it means a lot for Germany and it’s an honour for all of us.”