体坛英语新闻：Switzerland edge Germany 3-2 to reach Fed Cup semi-finals

BERLIN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland progressed into the semi-finals after Belinda Bencic and Martina Hingis won the deciding doubles to edge Germany 3-2 in the Fed Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.

Belina Bencic has large shares on Switzerland's first progression into the semi-finals in 18 years, as the World No. 11 upset Australian Open champion and World No. 2 Angelique Kerber 7-6, 6-3 before she mastered the deciding double, against Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Andrea Petkovic, with Martina Hingis 6-3, 6-2 in 71 minutes.

Bencic claimed her first victory of the day against Angelique Kerber. Both players exchanged breaks in an evenly balanced first set. As a result, the tiebreak had to bring the decision, in which Bencic reaped the first set 7-6 (7-4) with a forehand winner after 51 minutes.

Angelique Kerber showed a decline of strength and was unable to hold the pace with Bencic, who sealed the second set 6-3 to give Switzerland a 2-1 lead.

"My battery was empty. Sometimes you just reach your physical limits," Kerber said after the loss.

However, Germany bounced back and levelled the scores thanks to World No. 39 Annika Beck, who beat Timea Bacsinszky, ranked as World No. 15, 7-5, 6-4.

It was a short-lived joy for the hosts as Switzerland grabbed the deciding point in the doubles with Martina Hingis and Belina Bencic, who proved too strong for Andrea Petkovic and Anna-Lena Groenefeld (6-3, 6-2).

"The bottom line is that Martina Hingis has shown why she is the World No. 1 in the doubles. I cannot blame anyone of my team," Germany captain Barbara Rittner said.

With the result, Germany face their first play-off since 2013 to avoid their relegation into the second World Group. Meanwhile Switzerland improved their record against Germany to 2-4, to book their first ticket for the top four in 18 years.

In the semi-finals, Switzerland encounter with Czech Republic on April 16-17 to battle for the final ticket.