Czech Republic to miss Petra Kvitova in Fed Cup tie against Spain

The Czech Republic Fed Cup team will be without world number six Petra Kvitova in the first-round tie against Spain in Sevilla on February 8-9, it said on its Facebook page as she battles against illness.

"I'm very sorry... I have to stay at home and cure the virosis," said the 23-year-old Kvitova, who led the Czech team to Fed Cup victories in 2011 and 2012.

The Czech team comprises world number 27 Lucie Safarova, 34th-ranked Klara Zakopalova, 74th-ranked Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova, and Andrea Hlavackova, world number nine in doubles.

Spain, who last won the trophy in 1998, have picked 16th-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro alongside Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (65), Silvia Soler-Espinosa (77) and Lara Arruabarrena (99) for their team.