Radek Stepanek to undergo surgery due to neck injury

Veteran Czech player Radek Stepanek has withdrawn from next week's Davis Cup tie against Switzerland due to an escalating neck injury since the tournament in Sydney.

According to ATP website, "a neck disc was pressing on a nerve and was creating a big problem in Stepanek's neck and right hand".

Team captain Jaroslav Navratil announced that Stepanek will be replaced by world ranked 189 Ivo Minar, who will join Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol  for the trip to Geneva. The defending champions will meet the Swiss team who will be without Roger Federer.

(Via Sport.cz, NDTV Sports, ATPWorldTour)

Australian Open 2013 official players party

Players attended the official Australian Open players party at the Grand Hyatt last night. Those who attended were greeted by some wildlife e.g. koala, snake and a joey. There's a video at the end of this post.

Stanislas Wawrinka

Lucie Safarova

Chen Ti

Jelena Jankovic

Michael Llodra 

Radek Stepanek

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Petra Kvitova 

Sania Mirza

James Ward and Anne Keothavong

Daniela Hantuchova 

Denis Istomin

(Images via Zimbio)

Finally Mr and Mrs Stepanek

Radek Stepanek and Nicole Vaidisova have tied the knot in Prague, Czech Republic.

The 31-year-old Stepanek and Vaidisova, who is 21 were married on Saturday in St. Vitus Cathedral, the country's biggest and most well known church.

The 'real' wedding photo above kind of remind me of the photo below :D - sexy Stepanek used to be very popular among women's tennis players

Stepanek was once engaged to former world number one Martina Hingis.

(Images via AFP, AP)


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Spain to meet Czech Republic in Davis Cup final

Spain will host Czech Republic in the December's Davis Cup final after the two teams recorded 3-0 victories in the semifinals.

Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo clinched the tie for Spain, defeating Israel's doubles specialist Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Spain, winners in 2000, 2004 and 2008, play without Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco who were watching from the sidelines.

David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero filled in for their injured team mates and recorded straight-set wins in both matches on Day 1.

Ferrer defeated Harel Levy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and Ferrero ground down Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-2, 6-0.

Meanwhile, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic defeated Croatia's Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday.

The first day of play stretched to almost 10 hours as the Czechs narrowly win two five-setters to go up 2-0.

Stepanek withstood 78 aces for almost six hours to edge past big server Ivo Karlovic 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 6-7(2), 16-14, while Berdych held firm after losing a two-set lead to defeat Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3.

It will be the Czechs’ first final since their only Davis Cup triumph in 1980, led by Ivan Lendl.

(Via AP, tennis.com)

2009 Davis Cup: Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain through to the semifinals

Croatia, Czech Republic and Spain join Israel to qualify for the September's Davis Cup semifinals.

CRO-USA 3-2: The Croats remain undefeated against the Americans in Davis Cup, having now won all three meetings between the two nations.

Marin Cilic wrapped up this quarterfinal tie 3-1 by defeating James Blake 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and setting up a meeting with the Czech Republic in September's semifinals.

CZE-ARG 3-2: Juan Martin del Potro began the day by defeating Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to put the Argentines back on level terms and send the tie to a deciding fifth rubber.

But the Czechs' decision to rest Radek Stepanek in the opening singles paid off – he clinched the tie 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 against Juan Monaco.

ESP-GER 3-2: The Germans pushed the tie into a deciding fifth rubber when Philipp Kohlschreiber prevailed 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 against Fernando Verdasco.

Later, the experienced Juan Carlos Ferrero sealed a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Andreas Beck to send the Spanish Armada into the semifinals against Israel.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Divorce: Of Rafael Nadal, Radek Stepanek and Nicole Vaidisova

Times Online reported on Tuesday that all was not fine with Rafael Nadal back home in Majorca.

For many weeks there have been whispers that matters were complicated in the Nadal household -- that his parents, Sebastian and Ana Maria had separated.

If the information holds true, Nadal could well have been playing under much stress in the past few months.

Did Radek Stepanek and Nicole Vaidisova divorce before they even got married?

News are spreading that Nicole Vaidisova has dumped Radek Stepanek some time after the French Open.

Vaidisova, who used to rank as high as no.7 back in 2007, is expected to drop to about no. 130 in the rankings. Perhaps it's time to get rid of that worm and get back into the game!

Fernando Verdasco the new Radek Stepanek

We have a new Radek Stepanek! And he's more good looking!

Fernando Verdasco is probably one of the most-talked about tennis player right now because of his off court gossip that is getting more and more ridiculous every day.

We already knew his breakup with Ana Ivanovic early this year.

Just early this week, there was a gossip about Nando chasing after Sania Mirza at Indian Wells, following her wherever she goes.

And yesterday, Camilla Belle was spotted at his match and some sports commentators referred her as his fiancee!

And today, tennis forums are already talking about Nando with Caroline Wozniacki, who was once linked to another Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

This time some Eurosport commentators referred Nando (who was spotted at her box during her match) and Caroline as "an item".

So is Wozdasco the new couple?

I doubt so.

Perhaps all these are just early April Fool's pranks the commentators played on Nando.

(Image via menstennisforums.com)

Australian Open: IMG Players Party

Some of the tennis stars were at Breezes in Crown Entertainment Complex for the annual Crown IMG Baller Party celebrating the start of this year's Aussie Open.

Check out these photos.

Rafael Nadal who is not feeling the pressure to win the AO, posing
with sisters Melinda and Victoria Petrolo.

Jelena Jankovic is wearing a Wayne Cooper dress and Louis Vuitton bag and shoes.

Roger Federer is Mr Suave no. 1.

James Blake is Mr Suave no. 2.

Carlos Moya is Mr Suave no. 3.

Feliciano Lopez spoilt the party with a cheap homemade t-shirt.

David Nalbandian shares a laugh with Channel Seven's Mia Grieves.

Radek Stepanek looks as if he owns Nicole Vaidisova. Well, literally he is.
And his girl looks kinda intimidated.

Australian wild card Monika Wegnert, 16.

(Images by Fiona Hamilton via news.com.au)

The rest of the winners which I've missed last weekend

In Doha, Andy Murray defeated the other Andy, Mr. Roddick 6-4, 6-2 to win his first ATP title of the year, and ninth overall.

Fernando Verdasco failed to stop Radek Stepanek a.k.a. the Worm in Brisbane which resulted him to lost 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.

Verdasco also failed to win in the men's doubles final match. Marc Gicquel and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Verdasco and Mischa Zverev in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

In the women's doubles Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King won 3-6, 7-5, 10-5 over Poland pair Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosollska.

Somdev Devvarman who had beaten Carlos Moya and Ivo Karlovic earlier at the Chennai Open tournament, failed to convert the final match against Marin Cilic into a win. Cilic recorded a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory in two hours.

Somdev's achievement last week helped him to climb from 202 to a 154 in the ATP rankings. Way to go for this young man from India!

In the men's doubles, Eric Butorac and Rajeev Ram defeated Jean-Claude Scherrer and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4 to take the Chennai Open title.

ATP aside, in the ITF's China F1 Futures event, world's top-ranked junior Yang Tsung-hua who has just turned pro won both men's singles and doubles titles.

Yang who partnered with Lee Hsin-han thrashed Li Zhe and Wang Yu Jr. 6-0, 6-3. Then he defeated Zeng Shao-xuan6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the men's final.

(Images via Yahoo! Sport, sports-1apple.com.tw)