Berdych, Stepanek to face Italy in Davis Cup

Australian Open quarterfinalist Tomas Berdych and doubles winner Radek Stepanek will lead the Czech Republic against Italy in next week's first round of the Davis Cup in Ostrava. Berdych lost to Rafael Nadal in the quarters while Stepanek won his maiden Grand Slam title when he teamed with Leander Paes of India to beat Bob and Mike Bryan of the U.S. in the doubles final. Lukas Rosol and doubles specialist Frantisek Cermak were also in the Czech squad named on Tuesday for the Feb. 10-12 tie on indoor hard-court at CEZ Arena. In their last Davis Cup tie, Italy won 4-1 in 1995. In 1980, the Czechs won their only Davis Cup title as Czechoslovakia, beating Italy 4-1.