Tokyo: Radek Stepanek will face Tatsuma Ito in the opening singles match on Friday as the Czech Republic continue their quest for another Davis Cup title in a quarter-final match against an injury-ravaged Japan team.
Japan, playing in their first World Group quarter-final, are without top-ranked Kei Nishikori, who was forced to withdraw due to a groin injury. Go Soeda was set to be Japan's No. 1 in Nishikori's absence, but came down with a fever and will not play on Friday.
Taro Daniel will play for Japan in the second singles match on Friday against Lukas Rosol.
The Czech team will also be missing their top player as Tomas Berdych sits out following two tough tournaments in the United States.
Ito and Yasutaka Uchiyama are scheduled to face Stepanek and Jiri Vesely in the doubles on Saturday.
The meeting between Japan and Czech Republic is the first since 1935 and third ever The nations split their two previous ties in Prague, with Japan winning the first in 1930.
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