By ,
Published May 02, 2016
Ostrava, Czech Republic (SportsNetwork.com) - The Czech Republic stayed alive in its Davis Cup first-round tie against Australia with a doubles win Saturday.
The Czechs entered the day in an 0-2 hole after the Aussies claimed both singles matches on Friday, but the tandem of Jiri Vesely and Adam Pavlasek rallied for a 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory over the Australian duo of Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth.
Australia can still capture the best-of-five tie with one singles victory on Sunday, while the Czechs need to sweep both reverse singles match Sunday to advance.
The three-time Davis Cup champion Czechs are playing this weekend without Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek. The veteran duo helped the host nation to consecutive Davis Cup titles in 2012 and 2013.
Australia has won 28 Davis Cup titles, but none since 2003. The Aussies haven't been past the World Group first round since a semifinal run back in 2006.
Bernard Tomic will have the first opportunity to give the visitors a victory on Sunday when he plays Lukas Rosol in the first reverse singles match. Tomic beat Vesely in three sets Friday.
Vesely is then scheduled to meet Thanasi Kokkinakis in a potential decisive rubber. Kokkinakis rallied from a two-set deficit to stun Rosol in the first singles match Friday.
The Aussies lead the series between the two nations 6-1, including a victory in the most recent tie between the sides in 1997.
Sunday's winner will move on to meet Italy or Kazakhstan in a quarterfinal in July.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/czechs-stay-alive-in-davis-cup-with-doubles-win