[Tom Paulman]

Apparently, Stepanek got injured practising at Heilbronn challenger and will not be ready for the Davis Cup, which is played in Czech Republic on carpet. Other Czech players suck on faster surfaces so it's gonna be hard for the Czechs to defeat Belgium

Frustriert Abreisen musste auch Radek Stepanek, die Nummer 30 der Welt. Der Tscheche hatte eine Wildcard fürs Hauptfeld bekommen, verletzte sich aber am Samstagabend im Training nach einem Sturz und musste seinen Turnier- als auch den Daviscup-Start absagen. Für ihn rückte Matthias Bachinger nach. Der 20-Jährige hatte schon im Vorjahr eine Wildcard bekommen. Wie der gebürtige Dachauer (Weltrangliste 190) wurden von der Turnierleitung ebenfalls mit einer Freikarte ausgestattet: Andreas Beck (21/Ravensburg/Nummer 207 der Welt), Florian Mayer (24/Bayreuth/52) und Philipp Petzschner (23/Bayreuth/178). lm

http://www.stimme.de/sportregional/hnopen/art1677,1165032

 

[scarecrows]

isnt Berdych playing?

 

[Tom Paulman]

isnt Berdych playing?

He is, but he should win both singles matches and Damm/Vizner (or whoever will play doubles) should win their match, I can't see any other Czech player win in singles if Malisse or Darcis or Rochus are playing.

Other Czech players (apart from Berdych and Stepanek) suck on faster surfaces

This is how it should have been written.

 

[Andre♥]

Berdych (x2) + doubles will do the job

 

[Adler]

Somehow I think Czech should not bother that much

 

[scarecrows]

Berdych (x2) + doubles will do the job

yup, considering Czech have plenty of doubles players to choose from

 

[JuanRodriguez]

Berdych (x2) + doubles will do the job

Guess it won't be that easy. In Head-To-Heads Berdych has a 1-1 against Malisse and a 2-2 against Olivier Rochus + Malisse/Rochus won Roland Garros in doubles.

Well, it sure will be an exciting tie

 

[ReturnWinner]

Berdych is able to win both singles and they can win the doubles for sure as the czech team has very good doubles players

 

[Castafiore]

The Belgian players aren't exactly in blistering form right now and haven't been for a while now.

 

[scarecrows]

Guess it won't be that easy. In Head-To-Heads Berdych has a 1-1 against Malisse and a 2-2 against Olivier Rochus + Malisse/Rochus won Roland Garros in doubles.

Well, it sure will be an exciting tie

I thought Malisse wasnt playing either

and Rochus is pretty weak these last months despite being better than in the first half of 2007

 

[JuanRodriguez]

I thought Malisse wasnt playing either

and Rochus is pretty weak these last months despite being better than in the first half of 2007

dammit, you're right. Malisse confirmed he would play davis cup again, except for the first tie against the Czech Republic.

Hmm, that changes a lot. Olivier Rochus has troubles with his shoulder. Maybe Vliegen can surprise like he did previous year? (beat Hewitt in five sets)

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

Czechs will win

 

[JuanRodriguez]

Belgian team has been announced some minutes ago:

Olivier Rochus (ATP 56)
Steve Darcis (ATP 83)
Kristof Vliegen (ATP 105)
Ruben Bemelmans (ATP 413)

 

[valexie03]

Belgian team has been announced some minutes ago:

Olivier Rochus (ATP 56)
Steve Darcis (ATP 83)
Kristof Vliegen (ATP 105)
Ruben Bemelmans (ATP 413)

Source

 

[Horatio Caine]

it's gonna be hard for the Czechs to defeat Belgium

:lol: One of the most stupid I've comments I've read in the last couple of days.

 

[JuanRodriguez]

Source

VTV: Vlaamse TennisVereniging or Flemish Tennis Federation

surprising to see Bemelmans in the team, but must be a great experience for him.

 

[Tom Paulman]

:lol: One of the most stupid I've comments I've read in the last couple of days.

OK, I thought that Malisse would be ready to play as I was writing that. Anyway, there isn't a decent Czech player who can play on fast surfaces. Hernych used to be good but he was struggling last year. So Czech Republic might win, but 3-2 since the other Czech singles player will not win a match unless Vliegen or Rochus get injured and world number 413 replaces them.

 

[Horatio Caine]

OK, I thought that Malisse would be ready to play as I was writing that. Anyway, there isn't a decent Czech player who can play on fast surfaces. Hernych used to be good but he was struggling last year. So Czech Republic might win, but 3-2 since the other Czech singles player will not win a match unless Vliegen or Rochus get injured and world number 413 replaces them.

There are plenty of other Czech guys who would stand a reasonable chance of beating any of the named Belgian players - Vanek, Minar, Zib, Dlouhy and Vacek are 5 that come to mind. Sure, they wouldn't necessarily be favourites to win a singles match, but they're more than capable of making a stir. Just because their records on indoor surfaces may not be so good doesn't mean that, match-up wise, they can't do damage...you know that anyway.

 

[valexie03]

:lol: One of the most stupid I've comments I've read in the last couple of days.

I think pessimistic or even realistic would have been more appropriate. Still, they'll play in the Czech R. which is a plus for the Czech team (crowd, food poisoning à la Hass, etc)

 

[Labamba]

Radek is playing in the Wroclaw challenger this week, so I guess he'll be alright for the DC tie.