Stepanek succumbs to injury
Stepanek succumbs to injury 
Former Australian Captain December 31, 2007
NO.5 seed Radek Stepanek retired from his opening round match with a heel injury at the Australian men’s hardcourt tennis championship at Memorial Drive in Adelaide.
The Czech bowed out to Australian wildcard Joe Sirianni while trailing 6-7 (3-7) 3-4 and down a break in the second set, citing a right heel problem.
The former world No.8 said he did not pull out of the match because of the fierce heat, with temperatures hovering around 42C.
“Definitely, it’s the hottest tournament I’ve ever played but it’s different, some in the (United) States, in Washington you have very high humidity, here’s it’s very dry,'’ he said.
“Guys are coming in here and a couple of them are already sick or injured, on the court it can be around 50C, so definitely it’s maybe too much.'’
Stepanek was not the only seed to crash out on Monday’s first day with No.7 seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina beaten 6-3 6-3 by American Michael Russell.
Elsewhere, American Sam Querry eliminated Belgian Steve Darcis 7-5 6-4, and Germany’s Benjamin Becker ousted Australian Robert Smeets 3-6 6-4 6-2.
Agence France-Presse