In Sports News this Monday: Berdych wins Stockholm Open once again for second title of 2015; Šafářová gets off to losing start at debut WTA Championships; Sparta pull of Plzeň weak before top two meet in Prague; and Nedvěd becomes vice-president of Juventus.
Berdych makes it three Swedish Open titles in four years
Tomáš Berdych, photo: CTK
The Czech men’s tennis number one, Tomáš Berdych, has won his second tournament of 2015, the Stockholm Open. The top seed lifted the trophy for the second time in succession – and the third time in four years – after overcoming US player Jack Sock in the Swedish capital on Sunday. Berdych, ranked fifth in the world, was inconsistent in the first set but stepped up a gear in the tie-break and went on to win 7-6 6-2. The 30-year-old’s triumph at the weekend takes his career titles tally to 12.
Šafářová makes losing start in first WTA Championships
Lucie Šafářová, photo: CTK
While Tomáš Berdych is now looking forward to the ATP Tour Finals in London in three weeks’ time, the ladies’ equivalent is already underway in Singapore. Two Czechs are among the eight top players of the season in contention at the WTA Championships. Petra Kvitová and Lucie Šafářová are in the singles draw, the former for her fifth time in succession, the latter for her first time ever. Šafářová was first in action, losing 3-6 6-7 to Garbina Muguruza of Spain. Kvitová was due to play her first match, against Germany’s Angelique Kerber, later on Monday, after the recording of our programme.
Sparta pull three points clear…
Sparta Prague - Bohemians 1905, photo: CTK
Sparta Prague have moved three points clear at the top of the domestic football league after a 3:0 home win over Bohemians 1905 on Sunday. Captain David Lafata opened the scoring for the hosts and for his ninth goal in the first 11 games of the season. Kehinde Fatai also continued his impressive form with his sixth strike this term, while another import, Franci Litsingi of Congo, opened his account for the leaders.
… after Plzeň slip up week before top of table clash
Brno - Viktoria Plzeň, photo: CTK
Sparta were able to pull ahead after nearest rivals Viktoria Plzeň dropped three points before a head-to-head between the two in West Bohemia next weekend. The champions went down 1:0 to Brno in the Moravian capital for their first defeat of 2015–2016 and now lie three points behind the leaders. Slovan Liberec had been lying third but drew 1:1 with Jihlava on the road and were leapfrogged by Mladá Boleslav, who beat Slovácko 4:1 at home.
Nedvěd becomes vice-president of Juventus
Pavel Nedvěd, photo: CTK
The former Czech national soccer team captain Pavel Nedvěd has been made vice-president of Juventus, the club where he enjoyed the greatest successes of his playing career. The winner of the 2003 European Player of the Year award, who is now 43, had been a member of the board at the Italian giant for five years. Nedvěd is also due to receive a high state honour from the Czech president this week, at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia.
Liberec remain top of Extraliga after 14th round
Liberec - Kometa Brno, photo: CTK
In the Czech ice hockey Extraliga the leaders Liberec beat Kometa Brno 3:2 on Sunday. The White Tigers are one point ahead of Sparta Prague, who overcame Olomouc 3:1. And third placed Plzeň were the biggest winners of the 14th round, hammering Karlovy Vary 6:0 at the latter’s arena.
