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Davis Cup: Berdych hands Czechs tenth straight win

World number seven beats Netherlands’ De Bakker in straight sets.

Afp February 02, 2014

Tomas Berdych beat Thiemo de Bakker 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to hand the Czechs a 10th straight Davis Cup win. PHOTO: AFP

PRAGUE: Tomas Berdych led defending champions the Czech Republic to the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Sunday as he beat Thiemo de Bakker of Netherlands in straight sets for an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

Berdych, the world number seven and Czech number one, swept 139th-ranked De Bakker 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 46 minutes to hand the Czechs a 10th straight Davis Cup win.

The Czech Republic, who won the trophy in 2012 and 2013, will fly to Japan for the quarter-finals in April. Japan beat Canada 4-1 in their first-round tie this weekend.

De Bakker had beaten Berdych in Bastad in 2013, but lost in their other two encounters.

On the hard court of the CEZ Arena, the Dutchman proved an easy prey in the first set, losing 6-1 in 20 minutes. He showed some resistance in the second, but gave up a break which was all that Berdych needed to take it 6-4.

Berdych then regained his dominance to take the third set 6-3, despite letting De Bakker snatch a late break.

“I’m glad I handled it this way,” said Berdych. “I was ready for him.

Injury sours Germany’s victory over Spain

Germany were forced to forfeit a Davis Cup singles rubber through injury on Sunday having already won their World Group match against Spain.

Triple injuries meant only Daniel Brands was fit to face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the fifth and final rubber on Sunday with Germany holding a 3-1 lead.

Germany took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the World Group clash on Saturday which put them into the quarter-finals away to France in April.

With Germany’s Tommy Haas, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer all injured, captain Carsten Arriens was forced to forfeit Sunday’s match.

“The three players are not in a position to play,” he said. “The fact we must forfeit a game is not optimal.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2014.

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