Veteran Lucie Safarova has been drafted in to help Fed Cup holders Czech Republic bounce back from defeat by Romania and win a crucial play-off against Canada. Humiliated by Romania in the first round, the Czechs are without their two top players, Petra Kvitova, world number three, and Karolina Pliskova, the number four for the April 20-21 tie. They need a win to stay in the world group and believe Safarova, 32, has the experience to help them.
"I don't think the Canadians were expecting her to play and this could be our big advantage," team captain Petr Pala told journalists. A French Open finalist in 2015 and four-time Fed Cup winner, Safarova has said she would retire after the Prague Open ending May 4.