Petkovic digs deep to seal Germany’s Fed Cup win

Andrea Petkovic battled back from surviving two match points against her to give Germany an unassailable 3-1 lead over Romania in the Fed Cup World Group play-off on Sunday.

The 28-year-old showed an iron will after being demolished in the first set, then held her nerve to win the second-set tie-breaker and claim a 0-6, 7-6(7/1), 6-3 win over Monica Niculescu.

After Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber put the Germans 2-1 up by beating Simona Halep, ranked sixth in the world, in Sunday’s opening singles rubber, Petkovic finished the job.

“With these emotions and the support of this team, anything is possible,” said an exhausted Petkovic, who needed just over two and a half hours to seal her win.