Stepanek out of Miami Open

Czech tennis number one Radek Stepanek has been beaten in the fourth round of the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami. World number 16 Stepanek went out 3-6 4-6 to David Nalbandian of Argentina; he had earlier knocked out another Czech, Tomas Berdych.

Meanwhile, the Czech Tennis Association said they had tried in vain to persuade Stepanek to play for the Czech team in the second round of the Davis Cup's Euro/African Zone Group against Morocco in April. Last year the player refused to play in the Davis Cup, saying he wanted to concentrate on his own career.