Intro:

Germany reached the semi-finals of the Fed Cup in Bratislava on Sunday (9th February), after Angelique Kerber won the first reverse singles to clinch the first-round series against Slovakia.

Script:

Germany were up against Slovakia in the Fed Cup at the indoor hard court of the Bratislava National Tennis Centre.

The German team was looking for its first victory in a Fed Cuo World Group since 2002.

And they were on course having taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series on Saturday after Angelique Kerber overcame Daniela Hantuchova and Andrea Petkovic upset Dominika Cibulkova.

In Sunday's match up, world number nine Kerber faced Australian Open finalist Cibulkova looking put the match to bed.

Kerber broke her opponent three times in the opening set - eventually taking it with a 6-3.

Cibulkova fought back in the second and pushed the German to a tie break, but Kerber's prevailed 7-5 to close out the match 6-3 7-6 and ensure Germany's victory over Slovakia.

The German team will now face Australia in April in its first semi-final encounter since 1995.