PRAGUE (AP) The Czech Republic will be without Tomas Berdych in next week's Davis Cup quarterfinal against France.
Berdych, the country's top player who contributed to the 2012-13 Davis Cup titles, reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on Tuesday by beating fellow Czech Jiri Vesely 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (9), 6-3.
Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil says, ''I fully understand (Berdych's) absence. We all wish him to go as far as possible (at Wimbledon).''
Vesely together with Lukas Rosol, Adam Pavlasek, and veteran Radek Stepanek were named on Tuesday by Navratil for the July 15-17 tie on an indoor hard court at the eastern city of Trinec.
France won the last encounter 4-1 in the 2014 semifinals.