Pliskova, Kvitova to lead teams in Czech competition

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic makes a backhand return to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova during their third round singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (Dita Alangkara/AP)

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and third-ranked Karolina Pliskova will lead two teams in a charity competition during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pliskova’s team will include her twin-sister Kristyna, 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova, Tereza Martincova and Nikola Bartunkova.

Kvitova will be joined in her squad by Barbora Strycova, Katerina Siniakova, Barbora Krejcikova, Linda Fruhvirtova and Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to play a unique tournament,” Pliskova said.

The first of the four tournaments that are part of the competition is scheduled for June 13-15 in Prague.

Separately, the first of a series of tournaments organized by the Czech tennis federation is scheduled for May 26-28 in Prague.

Top Czech women, including Pliskova and Kvitova are set to play while Jiri Vesely is the highest-ranked player in the men’s draw.

All the tournaments will be without spectators. The matches will be broadcast on television.

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