The first ones of both teams should compete on Saturday from 11:30, then the doubles and the match will be closed by a doubles, in which the Czech captain Petr Pála reported 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtová and Maria Bouzková. However, it is possible to change the nomination for Saturday. Karolína Muchová is also part of the Czech team.
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The winners will advance to the final tournament, which is scheduled for an as yet unspecified place on November 8-13. Last year, Prague hurried to the top of the competition, and the Russians won the Czech capital, but they will not defend the trophy this year. Like the Belarusians, they were excluded from the competition due to the invasion of Ukraine.
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The six-year-old Ukrainian boy Artoom draws with the main judge.Photo: Michal Kamaryt, CTK
“We are a favorite thanks to the surface, even though Raducanu is in the nomination,” Pála said when announcing the nomination, adding: “I believe that the British will be the one with the clay game.
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Tereza Martincová (left) and Markéta Vondroušová during training at Prague’s Štvanice. Captain Petr Pála, not playing on the right.Photo: Vít Šimánek, CTK
It was clear that Vondroušová would play the role of number one. In second place, Pála decided to give Martincová a chance to present herself in the team competition for the first time. “I believe I made the right decision. Terka played well all week, she is well prepared, in good condition. She plays with a grand slam winner, but she definitely has to win the match. It will be hard for Emma to beat her,” said Pála.
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Czech women’s tennis has long been at the forefront and the captain believes that he could return to the top in the team competition. “Such a team needs to be thought of, albeit gradually, only at the highest level. Trying to win the title again. And the first step is through Britain and advancing to the final tournament,” said Pála, who led the team to six triumphs, most recently in 2018. .
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| BJK CR Cup Cup – Great Britain (clay, Prague): |
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| Friday, April 15: |
| 12:00, Vondroušová (32nd WTA) – Dartová (101st) |
| Martincova (50th) – Raducanuova (12th). |
| Saturday, April 16: |
| 11:30, Vondrousova – Raducanuova |
| Martincova – Dartova |
| Bouzkova, L. Fruhvirtova – Swanova, Kartalova. |
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This time the world number two Barbora Krejčíková is missing from the line-up due to elbow problems. The injury eliminated the originally nominated world doubles number one Kateřina Siniaková and the former supports Karolína Plíšková and Petra Kvitová are not available by appointment.
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Nevertheless, tennis players are the favorites of the match, as the British have only minimal experience with clay. Raducanu has not played a WTA tournament in it yet. “It will be a challenge for us. It is no secret that Czech women’s tennis is one of the best in the world, and we have respect for all players. We tried to prepare as best we could,” said British captain Anne Keothavong.
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It will be the seventh mutual match with Britain, the balance is balanced 3: 3. The Czechs won the last three fights, the last time in 1995 was clearly 3: 0. The Czech tennis players rejoiced in the overall triumph in the competition eleven times. The British reached the finals four times, most recently 41 years ago.
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The women’s team race in Štvanice will take place after 17 years, in 2005 the Czechs defeated the Japanese at the center. They had previously lost to the Italians in 1998, and the most famous matches of the former Fed Cup were played at Negrelli’s viaduct in 1986. The event of the week was Martina Navrátilová’s return to her native country after 11 years. The legendary player then represented the USA and helped them triumph.
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