Tennis: Steffi Graf keen to help German Fed Cup final team

BERLIN (AFP) - Steffi Graf is ready to lend the experience which brought her 22 Grand Slam titles to the German team which will tackle the Czech Republic in November's Fed Cup final.

"I am always available and the girls know that. Most have my phone number and they shouldn't hesitate to call me if they feel the need," Graf told the Rheinische Post.

As well as her staggering success on the WTA Tour, former world number one Graf also played in two German Fed Cup winning teams in 1987 and 1992.

Graf said she was optimistic that Germany could defeat the Czechs, who were champions in 2011 and 2012, in the final on November 8-9, which will be played either in Prague or Ostrava.

"It will not be easy. The Czechs have Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova who are excellent players. But if our girls do not get injured in the next few months, I think they have a good chance," added Graf.

Germany, playing with Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic but without Sabine Lisicki, reached the final by beating Australia 3-1 last month while the Czechs knocked out defending champions Italy 4-0.

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