Czech duo Barbora Strycova/Denisa Allertova beat Romanian pair Andreea Mitu/Raluca Olaru in the decisive match of the Fed Cup encounter between Romania and the Czech Republic in Cluj-Napoca, on Sunday evening.

The Romanians lost in straight sets 2-6, 3-6 and failed to take their team to the Fed Cup semifinals for the first time in almost 40 years.

Romania’s star player Simona Halep lost the opening match on Saturday against Karolina Pliskova, but Monica Niculescu leveled the score after a big victory against Czech Petra Kvitova.

Simona Halep came back on Sunday defeating Kvitova, but Niculescu didn’t manage to pull another surprise against Pliskova. With the score 2-2, the doubles match was decisive.

The Czech team thus made it to the semifinals and can hope to defend the title they won last year. They will play against Switzerland, who defeated Germany 3-2 in Leipzig.

France and the Netherlands will play in the other semifinal. France beat Italy 4-1 while the Netherlands won 3-1 against Russia in Moscow.

Romania will have to fight to remain in the World Group in April when they will meet one of the winners in World Group II. Spain is one of the possible opponents after beating Serbia 4-0.

editor@romania-insider.com