In Sports News this Monday: Czech tennis player Berdych loses to Ferrer in Doha final; biathlete Vítková clinches first World Cup win; press reports on English football club interest in goalkeeper Petr Čech; Rosický sets up Sanchez in Arsenal win; hockey club Liberec – buoyed by Lašák – lose in OT.
Tennis: Ferrer defeats Berdych in Doha final
Tomáš Berdych, photo: CTK
Tomáš Berdych was defeated by Spain’s David Ferrer, in the final in Doha in the Qatar Open at the weekend. Ferrer stormed to an early lead 4:0 in the first set, only to see the Czech fight back. All the same, the Spaniard won the first 6:4. The second set also went his way, but was close 7:5. Prior to the final, Berdych had won 4 out 6 of his last meetings with Ferrer.
Biathlon: Vítková secures first World Cup win
Veronika Vítková, photo: CTK
Twenty-six-year-old Czech biathlete Veronika Vítková won her first individual World Cup event in Oberhof, Germany last Friday, coming first in the women’s 7.5 kilometre sprint. Although she missed two targets, Vítková finished 8.8 seconds ahead of nearest rival Dorothea Wierer of Italy. Nicole Gontier, also of Italy, came third. Another Czech competitor, two-time Olympic silver medal winner Gabriela Soukalová came sixth.
Football: Press reports Čech could leave Chelsea in summer
Petr Čech, photo: Filip Jandourek
There has been increased speculation that Czech goalie Petr Čech will leave London football club Chelsea in the summer transfer window. The British press has written that Chelsea has come round to the idea of trading the keeper ahead of next season. Earlier, there were reports that another London club Arsenal, was ready to bid 7 million pounds, but at the weekend interest by the Gunners was denied by manager Arséne Wenger – possibly a tactical decision at this point. The Telegraph also suggested that interest from fellow Premier League club Liverpool was high.
A question mark over the Czech goalkeeper’s future at Chelsea emerged at the start of the current season when Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois replaced him as the first choice in Premier League games. Čech has since then made only sporadic first team appearances – he did play at the weekend, keeping a clean-sheet against Newcastle while Chelsea notched two for the win.
Rosický sets up Sanchez in win over Stoke
Arsenal - Stoke, photo: CTK
Fifth in the league, meanwhile, are Arsenal, who cruised past Stoke with a 3:0 win. Tomáš Rosický played in his fourth match in a row after being side-lined earlier. The Czech, who captains the Czech national team, set up Sanchez for a goal. The final score was 3:0 Arsenal.
Hockey club Liberec hang on for point
Ján Lašák, photo: CTK
Czech hockey club Liberec have earned a point in Sunday’s match against Litvínov, with goalie Ján Lašák shining between the posts. Even so, he was unable to prevent his team’s loss in overtime when Litvínov went on the power play. Until then, the game had been tied a two apiece. Lašák turned away 34 of 37 shots in the match, while his Tigers cranked out a mere 17 against their opponents. The winning goal came from Litvínov’s Lukeš.
