US Open doubles champions Hlavackova, Hradecka split
Prague (AFP) - Reigning US Open women's doubles champions Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic revealed Tuesday they are splitting after five successful years together.
"It was Andrea's decision... she told me she wanted to play with Lucie Safarova next year and focus on singles," the 28-year-old Hradecka told the www.tennis-arena.cz website.
"I don't think it will be a problem to play in the Fed Cup together," added the 27-year-old Hlavackova. The Czech Republic won the Fed Cup in 2011 and 2012.
Before lifting the US Open trophy this year, Hlavackova and Hradecka had won the French Open in 2011.
They were also runners-up at Wimbledon, the US Open, WTA Tour Championships and London Olympics in 2012.
Their last game together was a loss in the Challenge Bell finals in Quebec City, Canada only a week after the US Open triumph.
Hlavackova, the world number 11 for doubles, will team up with 18th-ranked Czech left-hander Safarova, while Hradecka, world number 14, will join forces with 134th-ranked Michaella Krajicek, a Dutch player with Czech parents.
