Sports News

In Sports News: a convincing win for Sparta Prague gives under-pressure coach Michal Bilek a reprieve; Bohemians 1905 leapfrog Most with a 1:0 win to get off the bottom of the table; tennis ace Nicole Vaidisova comes agonisingly close to her first WTA final for a year and a half; Tomas Berdych is hoping a good run at the Paris Masters could see him into elite the Masters Cup in Shanghai; and world slalom champion Sarka Zahrobska isn't too upset with coming 20th in her first race of the new skiing season.

Sparta win gives under-fire boss Bilek breathing space

Sparta-Kladno, photo: CTK

"Sparta rise from the dead" was the main headline in Monday's edition of the daily Sport, and there is no doubting Sparta Prague's 4:1 home win over Kladno on Sunday has eased the pressure on manager Michal Bilek. Fans were calling for his head on Thursday, when Sparta were beaten 2:1 at home by Zurich in their first UEFA Cup group game. And Bilek must have really got that sinking feeling when Kladno went ahead with less than ten minutes on the clock. But Sparta rallied, equalising before half-time and scoring three more without reply in the second half. So a reprieve for Michal Bilek - but it could be a while before he can relax again in the hottest seat in Czech football.

Slavia Prague were due to play after the recording of this programme, but with a five-point lead will remain in first place, whatever the outcome of Monday's home game against Liberec.

At the other end of the table, Bohemians 1905 took three valuable points from fellow strugglers Most in a 1:0 win in Prague. That result lifted Bohemians off bottom spot - the 16th rung now occupied by Most.

Close but no final for Vaidisova

Nicole Vaidisova, photo: CTK

Nicole Vaidisova narrowly missed out on her first WTA final in over a year and a half, when the Czech tennis star came agonisingly close to victory over Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in the semi-finals of the Linz Open on Saturday. The 19-year-old took the first set 6:2, before losing the second by the same margin. However, in the third Vaidisova failed to capitalise on being 4:1 up, before throwing away a match ball and eventually losing 7:3 in a tie-break.

Berdych hoping to reach elite Masters Cup with good showing in Paris

Tomas Berdych, photo: CTK

The Czech men's number Tomas Berdych is still in the running for the season's end Masters Cup in Shanghai. Two places are still up for grabs at the prestigious tournament, with Berdych not far behind Tommy Haas of Germany, who currently would qualify for the eighth and final spot. Berdych is one of a number of players hoping to make it into the elite eight by doing well at the Paris Masters, the second-last tournament of the season.

Zahrobska not worried by 20th spot in first race of skiing season

The new skiing season it hasn't begun ideally for Czech downhill skier Sarka Zahrobska. The slalom world champion came 20th in her first giant slalom competition of the year in Austria's Solden. Nevertheless, Zahrobska said she was satisfied with the result, given that it was her first outing of the season, and giant slalom isn't her preferred course.