Berdych to return to Davis Cup against Germans

Tomas Berdych struggled to return serves as he battled to a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4) win. (Bullit Marquez/AP)

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Tomes Berdych is returning to the Czech Republic’s squad after one-year absence to play next month’s Davis Cup’s first round series at Germany.

Berdych, who helped his country to win back-to-back Davis Cup titles in 2012-13, focused on the ATP Tour last year. He didn’t play in the 3-2 loss to Australia in the first round and also missed a 3-1 victory in India in the Davis Cup World Group playoff.

Veteran Radek Stepanek, Lukas Rosol and Jiri Vesely will join the 7th-ranked Berdych for the March 4-6 series on an indoor hardcourt at TUI Arena in Hannover.

Germany won both previous encounters between the two in 1993 and 2005. The Czechs last won as Czechoslovakia in 1982.

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