Sports News

In Sports News: the Czech women's tennis team lose to Italy in a playoff for the Fed Cup's elite World Group; Jana Novotna is inducted into the tennis hall of fame; Ondrej Synek wins a rowing World Cup in his debut season; high-jumper Jaroslav Baba impresses in Rome; and Czech Under 21 football captain Vaclav Sverkos could be moving to Stuttgart.

Czechs lose to Italy, miss out on Fed Cup elite group

Kveta Peschkeova and Nicole Vaidisova, photo: CTK

The Czech women's tennis team will not be in the elite World Group in next year's Fed Cup, after losing 3:2 to Italy in the playoffs. Home advantage counted for little as the Czechs got off to a bad start in Liberec, with Kveta Peschkeova losing the first singles game. Twice Peschkeova lost and twice Nicole Vaidisova won, making it 2:2 on games on Sunday afternoon.

The doubles decider, however, didn't go the Czech Republic's way, with the Italians winning 6-4 6-4. Peschkeova and Vaidisova were picked for that final match, with Vaidisova taking the place of Iveta Benesova, who had been expected to play in the doubles. Czech coach Tomas Petera explains his decision.

"I decided on those two players, not because Iveta hasn't been playing well, but because of how Nicole played in the singles. Iveta hadn't 'warmed up' and Nicole is in such great form at the moment. Her serving and returns are so good - she can only add to the doubles pair."

Berdych makes life difficult for Nadal in Swedish Open final

Upcoming Czech men's player Tomas Berdych gave French Open champion Rafael Nadal a run for his money on Sunday, when he beat the Spaniard 6-2 in the first set of the final of the Swedish Open. But it wasn't to be Berdych's day - he lost the next two sets 2-6 4-6.

Jana Novotna enters tennis hall of fame

Jana Novotna, photo: CTK

Jana Novotna, winner of Wimbledon in 1998, has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. The Brno-born player earned over 10 million dollars in a 13-year professional career.

Rower Synek takes World Cup in debut season

Ondrej Synek, photo: CTK

What a debut season it's been for Czech rower Ondrej Synek. The 22-year-old made a big splash by winning the first men's single skull World Cup race of the season in England's Eton. Synek has managed to maintain that form, taking gold in the World Cup finals on Sunday when he came first in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Baba equals Czech outdoor record in high jump

With just a month to go now until the Athletics World Championships in Helsinki, leading Czech high-jumper Jaroslav Baba is showing some fine form: he equalled the Czech outdoor record at Rome's Golden League meeting on Friday with a jump of 236 cm. The 20-year-old from Karvina in north Moravia set the Czech indoor record - 237cm - earlier this season.

Stuttgart reportedly interested in Czech Under 21 captain Sverkos

Czech Under 21 football captain Vaclav Sverkos could be moving up in the world. There have been reports Stuttgart are keen to sign the striker, who has made an impression in the Bundesliga in his two years at Borussia Monchengladbach.