Sports News

The Czech Republic have been beaten 3:2 by Spain in the first round of this season's Davis Cup, after Czech number one Jiri Novak suffered a groin strain. Czech ice hockey coach Slavomir Lener says he was pleased with how his team played at the Swedish Games, the last tournament before May's World Championships. Cross country skier Katerina Neumannova has won yet another World Cup event, this time the 10 kilometre free in the French Alps. Athlete Roman Sebrle has started the season in style and Czech footballers made their mark in Europe at the weekend.

Sports News

Czechs lose to Spain in Davis Cup after Novak suffers injury

Radek Stepanek, photo: CTK

The Czech Republic's men's tennis team had high hopes of beating Spain in the first round of this season's Davis Cup, after two of Spain's top players dropped out. However, that advantage was wiped out over the weekend when the Czech number one Jiri Novak suffered a groin strain and - with the Czechs 2:1 up on matches - had to miss the last day's play. His replacement, 17-year-old talent Tomas Berdych, was beaten by Spain's Lopez, leaving everything down to the last match between Radek Stepanek and Rafael Nadal. The young Spaniard proved too strong for Stepanek, leaving Spain 3:2 overall winners in Brno. Jiri Novak suffered his injury during the Czech Republic's doubles win on Saturday, and was clearly disappointed with how the weekend had finished.

"During the third set I felt a terrible pain in my groin. Throughout the night our doctors and masseurs gave me treatment, but this morning our doctor, Dr Kolar, said he wouldn't recommend playing. He said my groin muscle wouldn't take a whole game."

Czech Republic finish third in Euro Hockey Tour after Swedish Games

The Czech Republic had mixed fortunes at ice hockey's Swedish Games, where they beat Finland 2:1 and Russia 3:2, but lost 4:0 to Sweden. The Czechs came second in the Swedish Games and third in the four-nation Euro Hockey Tour. Coach Slavomir Lener said he was pleased with his team's performance, in what was their last test before the World Championships, which are being held in the Czech Republic in May.

Neumannova wins yet another World Cup race

Katerina Neumannova, photo: CTK

She's done it again: cross country skier Katerina Neumannova has won yet another World Cup race since her recent return to the tracks after having a baby. Neumannova's latest triumph came in the 10 kilometre free at La Culzas in the French Alps. After Friday's win, Neummanova joked that her opponents were starting to get sick of seeing her finish first, after three recent World Cup wins.

Sebrle starts season in style with win in Tallinn

Athlete Roman Sebrle has begun this Olympic year in style, with a convincing win in the septathlon in the Estonian capital Tallinn at the weekend. Sebrle achieved the third highest points tally in his career at 6,350, falling just 74 points short of the European record set by his compatriot Tomas Dvorak. Dvorak was also in action in Tallinn, finishing sixth.

Czech footballers make an impact in European leagues

With just a week to go until the Czech domestic football league begins again, Czechs playing in other European leagues were in the news this weekend. After an 11-month goal famine, striker Vratislav Lokvenc got his second goal in two games for Kaiserslautern, Jan Koller scored one and set up two for Borussia Dortmund and - also in Germany - Vaclav Sverkos found the net for Borussia Moenchengladbach. In France, meanwhile, Jaroslav Plasil got a goal for Monaco.