the best I could, Haley said. I stayed strong through that fir

STRASBOURG, France -- Czech Republic cemented its status of best team in the world by retaining its Fed Cup title on Sunday after Barbora Strycova and Karolina Pliskova won the decisive doubles match in the final against France. The pair beat Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 7-5 to secure a 3-2 win for the Czechs on the indoor hard court at Rhenus Sport Arena.The Czechs won a fifth title in six years, their 10th overall, and became the first team to win three consecutive Fed Cups since Spain from 1993-95.Our secret? Just fighting on every point, fighting until the end, said Strycova, who had already clinched the decisive rubber with Pliskova in last years final against Russia.Strycova was the decisive player on Sunday. Before her impressive display in the doubles, she replaced the injured Petra Kvitova at the last minute to defeat Alize Cornet 6-2, 7-6 (4) and keep the defending champions alive in the final.Caroline Garcia had earlier given France a 2-1 lead with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Pliskova.After overpowering Cornet with her mix of deep groundstrokes, slices and rushes to the net, Strycova inspired the Czechs to victory in the doubles with her aggressive tennis.The first set saw both teams perform well, with excellent net play from the Czechs, who made a decisive break in the 11th game after Mladenovic double-faulted to hand Pliskova and Strycova two break points. The Czechs needed only one as Pliskova fired a return on the baseline that Mladenovic could not handle.The French reacted immediately by putting pressure on Pliskovas serve early in the second set with sharp returns but failed to convert two break points. They continued with the same strategy on Strycovas serve, but again wasted two break points.The Czechs were more clinical and made the most of Mladenovics energy dip. They broke in the next game for a 3-2 lead after Strycova hit a difficult backhand overhead winner. Mladenovic and Garcia did not give up and managed to break Strycovas serve to level at 4-4 after Garcia hit a stunning forehand down the line.But the change of momentum didnt last long. Mladenovic dropped her serve after Pliskova kneeled at the net to perfectly handle a passing shot and produce a stunning drop volley on break point. The French duo saved a match point but could not prevent Pliskova from sealing the match on the next one.Kvitova could not play today, we did not have many options, but Strycova played really well, said Czech Republic captain Petr Pala. ``The girls never give up, like the French, but there is only one winner.Authentic NFL Jerseys Cheap . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Wholesale Jerseys Clearance . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. http://www.jerseysclearance.com/ . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Cheap Stitched Jerseys . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record.SRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Justin Haley became the youngest winner in more than 80 years of championship racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, winning the ARCA Racing Series event Sunday at 17.Racing a stock car on dirt for the first time, Haley, from Winamac, Indiana, held off Illinois favorites A.J. Fike and Ryan Unzicker during a green-white-checker finish on the mile track.I tried to hold him (Unzicker) off the best I could, Haley said. I stayed strong through that first corner. I was very impressed how well he ran us, up on the outside of us. We almost wrecked down the backstretch, but we held onto it.Driving Mason Mitchell Motorsports No. 98 Chevrolet, Haley surpassed Justin Allgaier -- the 2006 champion in his hometown event at 20 -- as the youngest major winner at the track that opened in 1934.Im a little surprised, Haley said. Never would have dreamed in a million years my first ARCA win would come on a dirt traack, but to be here in victory lane is super cool.dddddddddddd This dirt track racing is definitely different. ... Its tough. I would never have expected this. Im really happy for Mason Mitchell Motorsports. ... Its so cool to get those guys a win here.A crash on the backstretch inside of 10 laps between leader Josh Williams and Unzicker forced the final caution in the race that went 102 laps.Fike was second, followed Unzicker, 61-year-old former NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and season points leader Chase Briscoe.Considering how bad our car was at the beginning of the race, second feels like a win today, Fike said. We just couldnt get off (turn) four like we needed to. ... Loose in and loose off all day. Felt like the track got a little better the last 40 laps, and the restarts helped a bunch. ' ' '