Tomas Berdych.net

Stepanek and Berdych lead Czech Davis Cup final bid

PRAGUE — Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych will spearhead the Czech Republic's bid for Davis Cup glory when they face Spain in next week's final, team cheif Jaroslav Navratil said Saturday.

Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy complete the four-strong Czech line-up to face the Rafael Nadal-led Spain team, the defending champions, in Barcelona between December 4-6.

"Preparation has gone as well as can be expected, we've been working hard and most iportantly the players have no injury or health worries," said Navratil.

The Czechs will be looking to create their own little bit of Davis Cup history -- the last time they got to the final was as Czechoslovakia in 1980, when a team led by Ivan Lendl beat Italy 4-1 in Prague.

Berdych is not underestimating the task at hand.

"It will be extremely difficult but we're ready to give it everything to get the three points (needed for victory)," said Berdych.

Stepanek will join the team following a week's training camp in Florida.