Czechs without Kvitova, Safarova

Prague - Holders the Czech Republic will miss their top players Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova for the Fed Cup first-round tie in Canada on February 7-8, team captain Petr Pala said on Tuesday.

Pala said on the team's Facebook page he had called up world number 20 Karolina Pliskova, 68th-ranked Tereza Smitkova, 107th-ranked Denisa Allertova and doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka.

"I believe Kristyna Pliskova will be a real leader" after reaching the finals at Sydney and the third round at the Australian Open this month, said Pala.

He added that Kvitova and Safarova had been allowed to take a break because of the place and date of the tie in Quebec.

"The girls helped the team win the Fed Cup two or three times and I respect their programme and their wish to get higher in the rankings," Pala said.

"I think the team that's going to Canada is good enough to succeed."

The Czech Republic won the Fed Cup in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Canada's top Fed Cup achievement was reaching the semi-finals in 1988.