Davis Cup: Tomas Berdych to Spearhead Czech Republic Against Germany
Tomas Berdych skipped the Davis Cup last year when the Czechs led by Rosol and Vesely lost to Australia in the first round before beating India in the play-offs to stay in the World Group.
World number seven Tomas Berdych will spearhead the Czech Republic in their first-round Davis Cup tie against Germany in Hannover on March 4-6, team captain Jaroslav Navratil said on Tuesday. (Click here for latest Tennis stories)
Navratil also called up 51st-ranked Lukas Rosol, 55th-ranked Jiri Vesely and 167th-ranked veteran Radek Stepanek.
Berdych and Stepanek led the Czechs to Davis Cup titles in 2012 and 2013. Former Czechoslovakia, which split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, won the trophy in 1980.
Berdych skipped the competition last year when the Czechs led by Rosol and Vesely lost to Australia in the first round before beating India in the play-offs to stay in the World Group.
"I had no problems making the decision," Navratil said.
"The crucial thing is that Tomas Berdych is coming back because we are facing a very difficult tie in Germany."
Germany will rely on world number 28 Philipp Kohlschreiber alongside 56th-ranked Alexander Zverev, 100th-ranked Dustin Brown and doubles specialist Philipp Petzschner.
Germany have won three Davis Cup titles, the last one in 1993 with a team led by 1991 Wimbledon champion Michael Stich.