Injured Radek Stepanek Misses Davis Cup Tie

Written by: Staff on 30th January 2013

Injured Radek Stepanek Misses Davis Cup Tie

epa03538492 Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic plays a backhand during his 2nd round match against Feliciano Lopez of Spain at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2013. EPA/Mast Irham |

Radek Stepanek was an heroic figure when Czech Republic won their first Davis Cup title as an independent nation in Prague last November but he will be forced to step out the first step of the team’s defense and his return to tennis is indefinite.

The 34 year-old clinched the title win over Spain in the fifth and deciding rubber with an exacting four-set victory over Spain’s Nicolas Almagro and sparked great celebration across the Czech capital.

Stepanek, who reached the third round of singles in the recent Australian Open before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic and lost in the initial round of doubles alongside regular partner Leander Paes, a back problem and needs immediate surgery to relieve issues with a disc.

So Stepanek, currently ranked 32 in the world at singles, is forced to take no more than a spectator’s role in the first round tie against Switzerland in Geneva this weekend. Lukas Rosol is expected to move up to the number two spot while Ivo Minar will be added to the squad.

Speaking on an official video released by the Czech team, Stepanek said: “I cannot take part with the guys. Unfortunately I have a problem with my disc that I have to have an operation on.”

Stepanek was an ever present in the Czech team during their title run, playing both singles and all the doubles rubbers alongside Tomas Berdych, establishing a 6-3 winning record throughout 2012. He made his Davis Cup debut ten years ago and has played 17 ties in total with a 66% winning ration (26/13).

The Swiss, who trail 2-6 against the Czechs in Davis Cup history, which will be led by 17th ranked Stanislas Wawrinka, in the absence of Roger Federer. But Swiss captain Severin Luethi is confident the former world no. will return to play for his country.

“’He is for sure not finished with Davis Cup,” said Luethi who shared the Federer coaching responsibilities during the US Open with Paul Annacone. “Roger didn’t take a final decision to say, ‘I’m not ever playing Davis Cup again.’ He just decided for the first half of the year now that he is not playing, then we have to see what he is going to decide.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: 10sballs.com, CZECH REPUBLIC tennis news, Davis Cup, Radek Stepanek, Sports, t ennis news, tennis injury, Tomas Berdych