Sports News
As the Czech Republic's men's tennis team prepares to face Spain in Brno this weekend in the first round of this year's Davis Cup, two of Spain's star players have dropped out. The Czech ice hockey team will also be in action this weekend, in the Swedish Games, the last competition of the Euro Hockey Tour. Meanwhile, Czech Extraliga club Kladno have loaned goaltender Zdenek Orct to Russia's Kazan for the rest of the season.
Czech Davis Cup team playing Spain in Brno this weekend
"Spain are still the favourites because practically all of their players are ranked in the world top 50, and that says a lot about the strength of Spanish tennis. As for ourselves, it's an advantage that we're playing in front of a home crowd and we were able to choose the playing surface. So we'll see what happens."
The surface the Czech team have chosen is taraflex, which allows for relatively fast play. The Spanish are clay court specialists, though their Davis Cup team have had five days to get used to the court in Brno.
Goaltender Malek called up for Swedish games
The Czech ice hockey team will also be in action this weekend, in the Swedish Games, the last competition of the Euro Hockey Tour. The Czech Republic's first game is against Finland on Thursday evening, and will feature the recalled Roman Malek in goal. Exactly a year ago Malek played one of his best ever games for the Czech Republic against the Finns in Helsinki; he says he is very happy to have been given the nod once again by coach Slavomir Lener.
"I'm really glad to be returning to the team. I play better away, like against Finland who are playing in front of a home crowd. The arena will be full, the atmosphere is good there. That suits me better than when the hall is empty or when we play at home."
The Swedish Games are the Czech hockey team's last competition before the World Championships, which take place in Prague and Ostrava in May.
Despite approaching play-offs Kladno loan goalie Orct to Russian team
Staying with ice hockey, Czech Extraliga club Kladno have loaned goaltender Zdenek Orct to Russia's Kazan for the rest of the season. The move comes at a time when Kladno are battling for a place in the play-offs; they currently occupy the eighth and final play-off place. Kladno's management said, however, they simply couldn't refuse the money Kazan were offering for Orct.
Czech duo fail to make the podium at figure skating championships
At the European Figure Skating Championships in Budapest, the leading Czech duo of Katerina Berankova and Otto Dlabola have come fifth, equalling their previous career-best placing.
