Czech team confident of success
Published on Sep 17, 2003
[TENNIS] Despite the absence of Radek Stephanek, the Czech Republic vowed that their players were capable of beating Thailand in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs at the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani this weekend.
The Czech Republic team is confident that world No 12 Jiri Novak, No 109 Tomas Berdych and doubles players Bohdan Ulihrach and David Rikl will be good enough to get them through to the elite group next year.
"Stephanek is injured and could not come to this tie. But we still have good players in the team and we think we will win,'' said Czech captain Cyril Suk at the venue yesterday. The draw will be held on Thursday at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
No matter how confident the visitors are, they were well aware that the 11th-ranked Paradorn Srichaphan and Thai No 2 Danai Udomchoke, ranked 179 places below his countryman, would not make it a walk in the park for them. There is also the fact that playing in front of cheering local tennis enthusiasts could inspire the Thai players to pull off a surprise victory.
"In the Davis Cup you never know what is going to happen. The Thai team will have the home advantage and support from the crowds. It's not going to be easy for us, but in the end we will win,'' added Suk, who could play in the doubles rubber on Saturday if necessary.
Novak, a former top 10 player, appeared the most confident of his team-mates. And he has every reason to be, especially after a three-set victory over Thai ace Paradorn in the quarter-final of the Madrid Masters Series last year on the same type of court, a hard court imported from Spain.
"Paradorn is a good player and has improved from last year. But I beat him in Madrid also on this surface, which gives me confidence,'' said the tall Czech No 1, who denied carrying any pressure being the team's major hope.
"We have all good players in the team and even Ulihrach and Rikl are doubles specialists. Overall we are quite a strong team and all the Czech players think we have a great chance to win,'' added the 28-year-old Novak, who is based in Monte Carlo.
Of all the visitors, 18-year-old Berdych is the only Cup debutante. He is supposed to play the singles rubber against Paradorn on Friday.
"This will be my first time in the Davis Cup and it is very nice. Paradorn used to be a top 10 player. It's going to be tough match for me,'' said the teenager, who as a qualifier made it to the second round of the US Open this year.
Thai captain Chanachai Srichaphan admitted that the home team were still the underdogs even though the Czech Republic would be weakened without the injured Stephanek. But he has high hopes that strong support from the Thai fans will help turn the situation around.
"In a tournament like the Davis Cup, it doesn't matter that you are underdogs because the real motivation is the cheers from the crowd which can push you to make a difference. We are playing at home and that's the big advantage,'' said Chanachai, the father and coach of Paradorn.
For Paradorn the biggest hurdle is Sunday's reverse singles against Novak. Despite his loss to the Czech last year, the Thai star said he is now a different player.
"Last year I was a low ranked player, but now I am No 12 in the world. I have improved over the last year and have better experience. I might have lost to him on this type of surface, but in fact the hard court is my favourite,'' said Paradorn, who yesterday renewed an endorsement with Adidas which was expected to be worth more than Bt10 million.
Lerpong Amsa-ngiam
The Nation
