Fed Cup semis over and 11 for Rafa

The Fed Cup Semi Finals were concluded Sundsy:

Germany v Czech Republic (3)

Julia Goerges defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-4 6-2, giving Germany its first win of the tie.

Czech Republic 2-1

Petra Kvitova defeated Angie Kerber 6-2 6-2

Czech Republic 3-1 and winners of the tie

Through to the final for the sixth time in the last eight years - it has won all five finals it has appeared in through that period.

The fifth match was played for the benefit of the crowd, although the German fans would mostly have left after the disappointment of losing the semi final.  It was just a one setter 

Katerina Siniakova / Barbora Strycova defeated Julia Goerges / Anna-Lena Groenefeld 7-5

Czech Republic 4-1

France (4) v USA (2)

Sloane Stephens was ruthless in putting her team in prime position 

She defeated Kiki Mladenovic 6-2 6-0 in just 54 minutes

USA 2-1

Madison Keys defeated Pauline Parmentier 7-6(4) 6-4

USA 3-1 and winners of the tie

Through to the final and playing the Czech Republic in what should be a top class battle.

Parmentier can hold her head high despite losing both her singles matches - she pushed both her much more highly credentialed American opponents to first set tie breaks and was competitive throughout each of the second sets she played.

The final match was played, even though it had no impact on the overall result.

Amandine Hesse / Kiki Mladenovic defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands / CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4 3-6 10-6

USA 3-2

East of Aix-en-Provence, where the USA won their Fed Cup semi final, Rafa Nadal won his 11th Monte Carlo Masters 1000 title, and with the 6-3 6-2 victory over Kei Nishikori, the Clay King increased his consecutive number of sets won on the surface to 36.

Nadal also retained his position as world number one.

Nishikori will move up from 36 to the low twenties and top ten within reach again.