Fed Cup: Simona Halep wins to even Romania and Germany at 1–1

CLUJ, Romania (AP) Romania's top woman player Simona Halep battled to a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory over Germany's Andrea Petkovic to even the Fed Cup World Group playoff at 1-1.

At the end of a contest lasting 2 hours and 49 minutes Saturday, Halep said: ''It was a very difficult match and I had a low point in the middle,'' adding: ''It doesn't matter how I play tomorrow, the main thing is to win.''

Earlier in the day, Germany's Angelique Kerber won the first match against Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 6-3.

It was the sixth meeting between the players, with Kerber increasing her head-to-head lead to 4-2.

Before Saturday's game, Halep had won her last five matches against Petkovic.

Germany won the last time the two teams met, in 1974.