Radek Stepanek will open the Czech Republic's Davis Cup first-round tie against the Netherlands in Ostrava.
Source:
AAP
30 Jan 2014 - 10:52 PM  UPDATED 30 Jan 2014 - 10:56 PM

Radek Stepanek and Robin Haase will open the Davis Cup first-round tie between defending champions the Czech Republic and the Netherlands on Friday in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava.

Second-ranked Czech Stepanek, the world No.50, will take on 46th-ranked Dutch No.1 Haase on the hardcourt of the CEZ Arena.

In the second rubber on Friday, top Czech player Tomas Berdych, the world No.7, will face 62nd-ranked Igor Sijsling.

In Thursday's draw, it was also announced that Czech duo Jiri Vesely and Lukas Rosol will take on Thiemo De Bakker and Jean-Julien Rojer in Saturday's doubles.

But the Czechs are almost certain to use Berdych and Stepanek, who have lost only one of their 15 Davis Cup doubles rubbers since teaming up in 2007.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Berdych will face Haase and Stepanek is due to take on Sijsling.

The Czech Republic are eyeing a Davis Cup hat-trick after lifting the trophy for the second year in succession last November when they beat Novak Djokovic-led Serbia 3-2 in Belgrade.

They have won their past nine Davis Cup ties.

The Netherlands will play their first World Group tie since 2009, with their last World Group win dating back to 2005.

The Dutch have lost four of their five ties against the Czech Republic or its predecessor Czechoslovakia. They scored their only head-to-head victory in 1925.