Stepanek out for three months after back surgery

Prague - Czech tennis veteran Radek Stepanek confirmed on Saturday he will be out of action for three months after undergoing back surgery.

The 38-year-old, who has slipped to 99th in the world rankings, revealed on Facebook he had a lumbar vertebrae procedure Thursday because of "chronic problems".

"I want to prolong my career and that's why I decided to sacrifice three months now so that I can then play without pain," explained the Davis Cup winner in 2012 and 2013, and mixed doubles bronze medallist at the 2016 Olympics.

Stepanek reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in Doha and third round of the Australia Open in Melbourne, before pulling out of the first round of the Davis Cup against Australia because of back pain.