The Czech team lost to the United States 4–1 in the Davis Cup’s opening round in Ostrava Feb. 9–11. Top Czech Tomáš Berdych scored the only win, defeating James Blake. The Americans advanced to the quarterfinals against Spain, and the Czechs will fight for a spot in the 16-member elite group in a playoff round in September.

Czech hockey icon Jaromír Jágr became the 12th player in NHL history to score 1,500 points for goals and assists. The New York Rangers’ captain scored three assists in the Rangers’ 5–2 win over the Washington Capitals Feb. 10. Since joining the NHL in 1990, Jágr has amassed 1,501 points, with 612 goals and 889 assists.

The Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported that Czech soccer star Pavel Nedvěd has been an unsuccessful silent investor who is likely to lose more than 20 million Kč ($927,214) in the bankrupt wood-processing company Mafloor in west Bohemia. The company, in which Nedvěd invested about 37 million Kč in 2000 and 2001, declared bankruptcy in late 2005 after its debts to various creditors amounted to more than 30 million Kč. The company’s remaining assets, worth 19 million Kč, will be put up for auction March 7, and creditors will receive some compensation from the auction’s yield.

The Czech national soccer team kicked off the new season with a comfortable 2–0 win over Belgium in a friendly game in Brussels Feb. 7. The Czechs are next scheduled to take on Germany and Cyprus in the Euro 2008 qualifiers in March.

The Czech national soccer team’s striker, Jan Koller, who scored his 48th goal for the team in the game in Brussels, told French media that he might withdraw after Euro 2008. The 35-year-old plays for AS Monaco in the French league and said he could continue to play on the club level.

Marila Příbram soccer club owners Jaroslav Starka and Vlastimil Spěvák were released from prison Feb. 7 after almost three months’ detention. The pair was taken into custody Nov. 14 in a raid and held on suspicion of contributing to the 2002 disappearance of businessman Lambert Krejčíř, father of fugitive businessman Radovan Krejčíř. A gang kidnapped the elder Krejčíř in order to blackmail his son, police said.

Gambrinus Brno women’s basketball team lost to USK Prague 81–79 in overtime Feb. 10 in the country’s top-flight league. It was the first loss that Brno suffered at home in more than three years. Last year, Brno won the women’s Euroleague.

The Czech hockey team recorded one win and two losses in the Sweden Hockey Games in Stockholm Feb. 8–11 in the final tournament of the Euro Hockey League. The Czechs beat Finland (5–0) and lost to Sweden (6–2) and Russia (3–2 in overtime) and finished third in Sweden. In the Euro Hockey Tour’s overall standings, the Czechs finished last behind Sweden, Russia and Finland.