Ostrava, Czech Republic (SportsNetwork.com) – Australia got wins from Bernard
Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis to jump ahead of the host Czech Republic 2-0 in
their best-of-five opening-round Davis Cup tie in Ostrava.
The promising 18-year-old Kokkinakis picked up the first point of the weekend
by coming from behind to stun Lukas Rosol 4-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3, while
Friday’s nightcap saw the 22-year-old Tomic handle Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-3, 7-6
(7-5) on the indoor hardcourt at Cez Arena.
Saturday’s doubles rubber has an Aussie tandem of fading former world No. 1
star Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth slated to take on a Czech pairing of Jan
Mertl and Adam Pavlasek.
Sunday’s reverse singles have the 38th-ranked Tomic taking on the world No.
31 Rosol and the 133rd-ranked Kokkinakis facing the No. 45 Vesely.
Australia is a 28-time Davis Cup champion, while the Czechs have won the
coveted team trophy three times.
The Aussies lead the series between the two nations 6-1, including a victory
in the most recent tie between the sides in 1997.
The winner here will move on to meet Italy or Kazakhstan in a quarterfinal in
July.
