Djokovic into Rome final as Stepanek retires
Novak Djokovic will start as favourite for the Rome Masters title after his semi-final opponent Radek Stepanek retired during the last four clash. The Czech, who was trailing 6-0 1-0,was given treatment at the end of the first set and eventually withdrew just one game later.
Stepanek became the second semi-finalist to retire on Saturday after Andy Roddick suffered a back problem in his match against Stanislas Wawrinka.
Stepanek, who beat world number one Roger Federer in the quarter-final, said: "I started feeling bad for the first time after practice this morning and then I ate lunch and was feeling better.
"Once the match started, however, I started feeling worse and worse. I was dizzy and weak and couldn't play."
Roddick lasted just three games of his clash with Wawrinka before suffering a back injury which left the American in too much pain to continue.
"I felt a little something last night in my back when I was getting treatment. Then, one wrong movement and I had a complete spasm," Roddick told the BBC.
"I warmed up OK, but then just one movement triggered it. I can feel it even when I take a deep breath now.
"I can't really move my left arm right now. You can't really play around that."
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