Petra Kvitová extends great run with Madrid Open triumph; Czechs qualify for quarter-finals at ice hockey worlds; title race still open as Plzeň draw with Slovácko; Czech champions sure of Champions League spot.
Kvitová wins in Madrid for second title in week
Petra Kvitová, photo: CTK
Petra Kvitová is really flying at the moment. A week after taking the Prague Open, the 28-year-old won another WTA tournament on Saturday when she beat Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 7-6 4-6 6-3 in the final of the Madrid Open. Kvitová, who had eliminated compatriot Karolína Plíšková in the semi-finals, thus became the first woman to win the competition three times. Her latest victory gave her the 24th title of her career and the fourth of 2018. What’s more, on the back of her triumph in Madrid the Czech climbed two places to eighth in the world rankings.
Czech reach quarter-finals at ice hockey worlds
Czech Republic - France, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic have reached the quarter-finals of the Ice Hockey World Championships in Denmark. Coach Josef Jandač’s team crushed France 6:0 on Sunday evening and secured qualification later when Sweden beat Switzerland. David Pastrňák and Roman Horák scored two apiece, while Dmitrij Jaškin and Martin Nečas each found the net once for the Czechs’ second full points victory. In their final Group A match the Czech Republic will face Austria later on Monday.
Race for title still open as Plzeň draw with Slovácko
Viktoria Plzeň - Slovácko, photo: CTK
The race for the Czech soccer league, which had looked to be all over months ago, still hasn’t been wrapped up. Leaders Viktoria Plzeň could only draw at home with 11th placed Slovácko at the weekend and if Slavia Prague beat Dukla Prague away on Monday evening, after the recording of our show, Plzeň’s advantage will be reduced to only four points with two rounds to go. While the West Bohemians’ fans would surely be glad of the title, some are extremely frustrated at present. A vociferous group protested after the game at the team’s performance against Slovácko and had to be pacified by manager Pavel Vrba. Plzeň’s run-in sees them take on Teplice and Dukla, while Slavia face Jablonec and Teplice.
Liverpool qualification for Champions League good news for Czech football
There was good news for whoever does win the Czech league on Sunday, when Liverpool qualified for next season’s Champions League on the last day of the English Premier League. The result means that either Liverpool or (also qualified) fellow finalists Real Madrid will go into next year’s Champions League as winners. And that leaves one more guaranteed spot in the group stage for the Czech league, which has the best coefficient.
