Exhaustion forces Stepanek to take time off circuit

Prague: Czech tennis star Radek Stepanek is to take at least two months out because of fatigue, the Czech Davis Cup team`s spokesman told reporters.

The 31-year-old - ranked 18th in the world having been a highest-ranked eighth - started feeling tired during the Davis Cup World Group first round defeat of Belgium at the beginning of March. Stepanek - winner of four ATP titles but has never got further than the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam (at Wimbledon in 2006) - underwent blood tests in Florida, where he has a property."He (Stepanek) has to rest for at least two months so as to see if his blood tests improve," said Karel Tejkal. "Happily the Davis Cup quarter-finals, in July against Chile, are still a long way away."Stepanek, who was once engaged to former world number one Martina Hingis, is due to marry compatriot and now retired 21-year-old former world number seven Nicole Vaidisova, in July. Bureau Report