Italy travel to Ostrava this weekend to renew their rivalry with the Czech Republic in the first round of the 2012 Davis Cup. The two sides have meet on no fewer than ten times with the home side leading the series 7-3.
Italy will be delighted to be back in the big time having been promoted to the World Group for the first time in over a decade following their impressive wins in 2011. After whitewashing Slovenia 5-0 they beat Chile 4-1 in a notable display in Santiago. Captain Corrado Barazzutti, who also leads the Italian Fed Cup team, has a somewhat weak side this time around. Andreas Seppi is the leading light of the team but the Italian has only one career title to his name. Barazzutti will need the likes of Potito Starace and Simone Bolelli to be in inspirational form if there are to pull off a shock in Ostrava.
The home side had a disastrous David Cup in 2011 going out in a shock first round defeat to Kazakhstan. They did however secure their place in the World Group with a 5-0 win over Romania. Much again will rest on the shoulders of Tomas Berdych who will come into the tie in great form having won the Open Sud de France final last weekend. The Czech’s will also have the experienced Radek Stepanek who has won 10 of his 18 singles matches in the Davis Cup.
Prediction: Czech Rep 5-0
Date: 10 Feb - 12 Feb 2012
Venue: CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Surface: Hard, Indoor
