Radek Stepanek has pulled out of the Czech Republic’s first-round Davis Cup tie against Switzerland this weekend in Geneva due to a back injury.
"I cannot take part with the guys, unfortunately I have a problem with my disc that I have to have an operation on," Stepanek said in a video posted on the team's Facebook page.
Stepanek scored the clinching win over Spain in the 2012 Davis Cup final. The Czech press reports that Lukas Rosol is expected to move up to the No. 2 singles spot behind Tomas Berdych, while Ivo Minar will be added to the squad.
Stanislas Wawrinka leads the Swiss team that is playing without Roger Federer, who opted to skip the opening-round tie against the defending Davis Cup champion.
In related news, Le Matin reports that it took Berdych 50 hours to get from Melbourne back home due to plane trouble.