Czech Republic v. Italy – Davis Cup notes

Written by: Staff on 8th February 2012

Czech Republic v. Italy - Davis Cup notes

View of the court covered to protect from rain in the Nicola Pietrangeli Stadium at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 15 May 2010. The final matches of the Italian Open tennis tournament were postponed for several hours due to rain. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI |

CZECH REPUBLIC v ITALY – Ostrava, CZE – hard (indoors)

Head-to-head: Czech Republic lead 7-3

Czech Republic, competing as Czechoslovakia, defeated Italy in the 1980 Final en route to their only Davis Cup triumph to date. The last time the nations met, in 1995, the Italians claimed a 4-1 victory in Naples.

CZECH REPUBLIC v ITALY

5 Current DC Nations Ranking 13

Champion 1980 Best Result Champion 1976

1921 First Year Played 1922

79 Years Played (inc 2012) 82

31 Years in World Group (inc 2012) 21

191 Ties Played 235

115-76 Ties Win-Loss 155-80

0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 2

• CZECH REPUBLIC are making their 31st World Group appearance, the most for any nation along with Sweden and USA. They have competed in the World Group every year with the exception of 2006.

• Last year, the Czechs lost to Kazakhstan in the first round in Ostrava. They were 2-1 up after the doubles rubber before a stunning Kazakh comeback by Andrey Golubev and Mikhail Kukushkin. The Czechs defeated Romania 5-0 in the World Group play-offs to maintain their place in the top tier.

• Before the nation divided into Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Czechoslovakia won the Davis Cup in 1980, defeating this weekend’s opponent on carpet in Prague in the final.

• If Czech Republic win this weekend, they will host the winner of the Serbia v Sweden tie in April’s quarterfinals.

• Czech Republic are currently ranked No. 5 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking, 3 spots below their best ranking of No. 2, which they achieved for the first time in July 2010.

• ITALY are playing in the World Group for the first time since 2000.

• The Italians are bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1998. That year they defeated India 4-1 in the first round en route to finishing runner-up to Sweden.

• Last year, Italy defeated Slovenia in Europe/Africa Zone Group I before overcoming Chile 4-1 in Santiago in the World Group play-offs to gain promotion.

• Italy were crowned Davis Cup champions in 1976 (d. Chile), and have finished runner-up on 6 further occasions.

• Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli is the leading all-time Davis Cup player. He holds the record for playing the most rubbers (164), as well as the records for the most wins in both singles (78-32) and doubles (42-12). He also forms half of the most successful doubles partnership with Orlando Sirola (34-8).

• If Italy win this weekend, they will host the winner of the Serbia v Sweden tie in April’s quarterfinals.

• Italy are ranked No. 13 on the ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking, 3 places below their best ranking of No. 10, which they held when the rankings were first introduced on 3 December 2001.