Kvitova chosen to lead Czechs

Prague - Following an early exit from the WTA Finals, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will lead the Czech Republic in next week's Fed Cup final against Germany.

Karolina Pliskova, a 22-year-old rising star of Czech tennis, made the squad for the first time.

Pliskova won the Generali Ladies last month for her second WTA title this year and is a career-high 24th in the rankings.

Lucie Safarova is also in contention for singles, while doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka has been selected for the Nov. 8-9 best-of-five series on an indoor hard court in Prague.

Czech Republic captain Petr Pala narrowed his preliminary squad to four players, leaving out another doubles specialist, Andrea Hlavackova.

The Czechs, who beat Germany in their previous three encounters, won the Fed Cup in 2011 and '12.