In Sports News this Monday: Tomáš Berdych wins his first title of the season after an epic battle with Russia’s Youzhny in the final of the Munich Open; with an eight-point lead and only three games to go, Slavia Prague seem assured of winning the Czech football league again; Czech-born golfer Alex Čejka squanders the biggest final day lead in the history of the Players Championship; and questions are being asked about where it went wrong for the Czechs at the world ice hockey championships.
Munich Open first title of season for Berdych
Tomáš Berdych, photo: CTK
The Czech tennis player Tomáš Berdych has won his first ATP title of 2009, after defeating Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-4 4-6 7-6 in the final of the BMW Open in Munich. It was an epic clash. Berdych squandered a 4:1 lead and wasted three match points in the third set, and fell 4-0 and 5-1 behind in the decisive tiebreaker, before rallying to take six straight points and the fifth title of his career. As well as the EUR 70,000 prize money, Berdych took home a top-of-the-range BMW convertible. He said, however, that he was most glad of the points, as he sets about returning to the world top 10. After Sunday’s success, the 24-year-old from Valašské Meziříčí has climbed to 22nd in the rankings.
Tomáš Berdych wasn’t the only Czech to do well in Munich. Jan Hernych and Ivo Minář beat the Australian pair of Ashley Fisher and Jordan Kerr 6-4 6-4 to take the tournament’s doubles trophy.
Slavia virtually assured of defending league title as points lead increases again
Slavia Prague - České Budějovice, photo: CTK
Slavia Prague are now virtually assured of winning the Czech league for the second year in a row, after beating České Budějovice 2:0 at home on Sunday. Both of those goals came from Pavel Fořt. Meanwhile, Sparta Prague are eight points behind in second place after losing 2:1 at Zlin. That means Slavia need only take two points from their remaining three games to hold on to the league trophy. Their next match is away to bottom of the table Viktoria Žižkov a week from today.
Čejka blows biggest final day lead in history of Players Championship
Alex Čejka, photo: CTK
Czech-born golfer Alex Čejka will no doubt be kicking himself, and hard, after blowing a five-point overnight lead in the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach. In fact, going into Sunday’s final round his was the largest 54-hole lead in the tournament’s history. But Čejka, who is a German citizen, found himself out of contention by the half-way stage, as he shot a disappointing seven-over. The tournament was won by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.
Commentators call for new approach from Czech Republic after another poor hockey worlds
Czech Republic - Sweden, photo: CTK
Questions are still being asked about where it all went wrong for the Czech Republic at the world ice hockey championships in Switzerland. For the third year in a row the Czechs were knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals; as in 2008 were sent packing by Sweden on Thursday. Commentators are saying the Czechs need to change their style of play, take more advantage of power plays and commit fewer unnecessary fouls themselves. Meanwhile, star player Jaromír Jágr, disappointed by his own performance against Sweden, has said he may not go to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next February.
