daviscup.org
February 5, 2025

The draw has been made in Brno, where the Czech Republic face last year's runners-up Spain, and is as follows:

R1 - J. NOVAK (CZE) vs. R.NADAL (ESP)
R2 - R.STEPANEK (CZE) vs. T.ROBREDO (ESP)
R3 - J. NOVAK / R.STEPANEK (CZE) vs. R.NADAL / T.ROBREDO (ESP)
R4 - J. NOVAK (CZE) vs. T.ROBREDO (ESP)
R5 - R.STEPANEK (CZE) vs. R.NADAL (ESP)

The match between Jiri Novak, currently World No. 16, and Raphael Nadal, ranked No. 40 and the youngest player ever to play for Spain, will open the 2004 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round tie between the Czech Republic and Spain. The second match of the tie in the exhibiton halls in Brno will be played between Radek Stepanek and Tommy Robredo.

Both the captains nominated the same players for Saturday�s doubles. According to Davis Cup rules, the first Sunday�s singles pits the number one team players, Novak and Robredo, against each other, and the fifth match will be played between Stepanek and Nadal.

"It is good for me to start the tie because I am nominated also for the doubles so I can have more rest," said 28-year-old Jiri Novak said after the draw in the Old Town Hall of Brno. He has played the 17-year-old Nadal only once � and lost in this year�s semifinal in Auckland 61 63.

"I have to admitt that he played a lot better in Auckland than I did. But nowadays I am pretty satisfied with my game on taraflex. We decided for this surface because it suits us the best and the Spanish players don�t feel very good on it," Novak reminded the assembled press.

Novak has not lost any of his last eight singles rubbers in the Davis Cup ties and during this weekend he finds himself just 60 km away from his home town of Prostejov.

"Of course it is good to play so close home but I don�t mind where exactly in Czech Republic we play. We have a lot of support from our fans all over the country," Novak said. He doesn�t have to be afraid about the support during the weekend - the exhibition hall in Brno, capacity 5000, is already sold out.

"Novak plays at home and that�s better for him. I can�t think about the Auckland match too much," left-handed Rafael Nadal commented.

Last year�s finalists in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, Spain, arrived in Brno without their two best players Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, so Robredo should take the role of the team leader.

"Of course it is an advantage for the team of Czech Republic that we don�t have two our best players here but we have a strong young team and I think that all of the players proved just a couple of days ago during the Australian Open that the Spanish tennis players are good not only for clay. It seems so that the Czechs are favourites now but we have a lot of confidence," Jordi Arrese, the captain of Spain, commented.

"I don�t feel any bigger pressure at all as a team number one. We really have a strong team and if Nadal beats Novak in the opening match that would be a great start," 21-year-old Tommy Robredo said. Five days of practice in Brno was enough for him to hone his game for taraflex.

"Of course I feel better on clay but�" Robredo smiled. "The Czechs have chosen this surface because it suits Novak�s game especially and we have to try our best," he added.

His Friday opponent Radek Stepanek warned him with a smile that he can await a tough match.

"I know that he covers the 80 percent of the court with his forehand. But I will give him no time to run for his forehand. I�ll give him a work-out," Stepanek laughed. He has already forgotten last year�s first round tie against Russia when he lost the decisive fifth match against Davydenko.

"It is all over. I can imagine playing this time for the decisive point in the fifth match," the Czech number two said. The winner of the tie in Brno should play the winning team from the Netherlands � Canada tie.