Davis Cup: Czech Republic take 2-0 lead

Holders Czech Republic overcame the absence of their top two players, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, to take a 2-0 lead against Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup quarterfinal on Friday.

Jan Hajek had little trouble disposing 156th-ranked Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the opening singles before Lukas Rosol prevailed over world number 205 Andrey Golubev 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 to put the defending champions in command after the first day.
"It's not that easy to play the first match so I had to keep my focus and followed my plan for most of the match and it paid off in the end," 94th-ranked Hajek told reporters.

World number six Berdych was forced to pull out of the three-day indoor tie, played on clay at the National Tennis Centre in Astana, after injuring his shoulder at last week's Sony Open in Maimi, while 45th-ranked Stepanek was rested for the singles matches.
Stepanek, who has not played since undergoing neck surgery in January to relieve stress on a nerve, will have the chance to seal victory for the Czechs when he makes his competitive comeback in Saturday's doubles rubber.