Injury blow for Stepanek

Stepanek: Injury blow

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Radek Stepanek was forced out of the Nottingham Open with a rib injury that could threaten his participation at Wimbledon next week.

The in-form Czech star was the top seed in Nottingham and was due to play Vince Spadea on Wednesday but had to pull out before taking to the court due a rib problem he picked up in his opening round victory over John Isner.

The world number 15, ranked 16th for Wimbledon, will now have an anxious wait on the results of scans on the problem to determine if he can line up at SW19 on Monday.

"Yesterday at the end of the match against Isner I pulled a little bit the muscle under my rib but I didn't pay much attention," said Stepanek.

"I finished the match and I wanted to go and practice but when I came on the court I felt a pain under my rib and I went to see the physio and he said I have a muscle tear there.

"This morning, after I hit five shots, I had a really bad pain there, like somebody sticking a knife in there, and that's why I had to pull out because I'm not able to compete."

Top form

The 29-year-old has been in flying form this season, beating Roger Federer and making the last four of the Rome Masters before losing an epic five-setter against David Ferrer at the French Open.

His form gave him the top seeding at Nottingham and he admits that the injury has come up at a time when he was really hitting his stride.

"I believe it's the first time ever I've been number one seed in a tournament," he said.

"It's not a great moment for this to happen because I feel I've been playing really well and trying to get back to the top 10 and now I'm scared if I'm going to be playing Wimbledon.

"I love to play on the grass so it's disappointing for me but I hope and I pray in four or five days I'll recover."