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All eyes on Federer

Facing relegation from elite grouping, Davis Cup team takes on the world's best in Prague

By František Bouc
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
September 19th, 2007 issue

ISIFA/SIPA
Roger Federer won his fourth consecutive U.S. Open Sept. 9, defeating Novak Djoković in straight sets.
Following the past successes of Czech tennis, a Davis Cup qualifier for a spot in the tournament’s elite 16-member World Group would typically attract little attention from anyone outside the local dedicated tennis community.
However, the upcoming match between teams from the Czech Republic and Switzerland, Sept. 21–23, to keep a spot in the tournament’s top division has already sold out the 15,000-seat Sazka Arena in Prague. There has never been a bigger demand for Davis Cup tickets in the country, and the reason for the unprecedented interest can be explained in two words: Roger Federer.
The world’s best tennis player — who many believe could be the best player of all time — is set to make his first appearance on a court in the Czech Republic. Two weeks after winning the U.S. Open in New York City, notching his 12th Grand Slam tournament victory, Federer will be joining the Swiss team to fend off the Czech Republic’s two best players, Tomáš Berdych and Radek Štěpánek.
“I’ve never been to Prague and I’m very much looking forward to playing there,” Federer said moments after beating Serbia’s Novak Djoković in the U.S. Open final Sept. 9.
The local tennis community couldn’t be more excited.
“Normally, drawing such a strong opponent for a relegation match would be quite bad, but Federer’s arrival makes the tough draw worthwhile,” said Czech Tennis Association (ČTS) President Ivo Kaderka. “Otherwise, bringing Federer here would be a mission impossible.”
Motivation factor
Following his U.S. Open triumph, Federer won $2.4 million (47.6 million Kč), the largest prize in tennis history. Competing more against history than his peers or out of financial need, the 26-year-old Swiss only appears in major tournaments, and boosts the Swiss Davis Cup team only when it faces the possibility of relegation from the World Group.
The Czechs face a possible demotion after they lost to a star-studded U.S. team in the Davis Cup’s opening round in Ostrava in early February. Berdych, the top Czech player, won the only point for the team after he beat James Blake. Otherwise, Blake, alongside Andy Roddick and the Bryan brothers doubles team, dominated in Ostrava. Despite the Americans’ star power, the match did not sell out the 9,500-seat ČEZ Arena.
Federer’s arrival in Prague has sparked not only unprecedented fan interest, but it seems to have encouraged the return of Radek Štěpánek. For more than two years, Štěpánek refused to join the team due to unspecified controversies he had with ČTS’s management.
In August, however, Štěpánek surprised the country by announcing he would come back to the Davis Cup team.
“For now, I’m joining the team just for the game against Switzerland,” he said.
Štěpánek said the expected sellout in Sazka Arena and the chance to play the world’s No. 1 player were major factors in his decision.
“So far, I’ve been to Sazka Arena just twice: to watch a hockey game and for a pop concert,” he said. “Playing in front of a sellout crowd would be a fantastic experience.”
Playing the past two years without Štěpánek, who currently ranks 34th in the world, the Czech team has risen and fallen with Berdych, who ranks 10th worldwide. Although Berdych has typically been able to win both of his matches, the rest of the team has struggled to add the decisive third point.
Štěpánek’s comeback significantly boosts the team’s chances against Switzerland.
“Federer will have to win both of his singles, which won’t be easy, and we now have a good chance in the remaining three games,” said the team’s inactive captain Jaroslav Navrátil.
Both Štěpánek and Berdych said they were ready to take on Federer.
“We have to be confident,” Berdych said. “Even Federer is a human being and can be beaten.”

František Bouc can be reached at fbouc@praguepost.com


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