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Tribute Biofile: Radek Stepanek


By Scoop Malinowski

Status: ATP no 129. Winner of five career ATP singles and 14 doubles titles. Winner of 2012 Australian Open in doubles. Helped lead Czech Republic to win two Davis Cups – winning both deciding matches (2012 and 2013). Reached career high singles rank of #8 in 2006.

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 167

DOB: November 27, 1978 In: Karvina Czech Republic

First Tennis Memory: “My father, tennis coach in Karvina.”

Inspirations: “My tennis inspiration – I’m taking all my inspiration from somewhere else because I see a lot of great athletes playing well in a higher number of ages. And this is what is inspiring me to do the same in my sport.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Hmm, good question…Thomas Muster. He was playing an exhibition against Slava Dosedel in Czech Republic, in a town where I lived for a few years. And I think I was 12 or 13, I just had to warm him up for the exhibition. And I was badly nervous [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the Davis Cup twice and I think, singles-wise, my first title, definitely, in Rotterdam (2006 def C Rochus). And winning doubles with Leander in Australian Open. Winning Grand Slam is always a memory which stay with me forever.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I got in 2006 to top ten. I had a great year, I felt on top of my game. And I woke up in the morning and I didn’t feel my right hand. I had a dislocated disk in the neck and couldn’t play tennis for six months.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Grand Slam – Australian Open. Super Nine – Indian Wells. The other – Dubai, Basel.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “Because I grew up playing tennis, I love the competition. I love the one to one – it’s like in a boxing arena. The one to one – there is no draw. You win or lose. I like that gamble. That’s the only gamble I do in my life – playing tennis. I don’t do gambling in casinos and stuff. I have a passion for tennis. And it’s the thing I know best in my life, so far.”

Which Match Did You Feel Your Very Best: “I think that was the finals of Rotterdam when I won my first title. There I played really good.”

Strangest Match: “Definitely they happen in the Davis Cup, that’s where all the strange things happen. As I remember it was 2007 in Prague when we played against Switzerland when they had on the team Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. And I played the final match against Wawrinka at two-all and I was two sets to love up. And suddenly on one of my serves, my knee didn’t hold up. I didn’t know what happened and I had to finish that match really injured. And I don’t know how, I don’t know where it came from, but I was able to close out the match in the third set. And the atmosphere and everything that comes with it was just amazing feeling which I will never forget.”

Three Athletes From Other Sports You Like To Watch: “Jaromir Jagr in hockey. Peter Cech in soccer, he’s goalkeeper for Chelsea. And Tiger Woods in golf.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I think Gael Monfils is very funny. I used to watch Yannick Noah in the times before, he was a little funny. Mostly the past generation, they were bringing to the game something special, something where the crowd laughed. They brought up some energy with the umpires. It was more of a show which I like.”

Current Car: “BMW.”

Last Book Read: “Pavel Nedved, soccer player of Czech Republic.”

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29 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2016 at 10:23 am

    A living legend of the sport of tennis –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 24, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    Tremendous competitor. There isn’t anyone like him in the game. He is a true serve and volleyer. I know Pat McEnroe said a couple of years ago that everyone (meaning all the young Americans) have to learn how to play by hitting 35 shots in a row over the net, but Stepanek doesn’t engage in long rallies, he doesn’t hit rally balls, every shot he hits has a purpose. And what hands. It’s a shame he missed that last volley and didn’t bring it back to deuce on Murray’s serve in the last game.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    Yes that was a very volleyable ball for Step on match point but the pressure of the situation and Andy’s speed caused the miss – did you try lobbying todd martin again to get Vince into Newport qualies? Stepanek is a tennis genius –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 24, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    I think Stepanek is my favorite player to watch play now. I’ll have to confirm that after watching Dustin Brown tomorrow vs. Sock. But Radek’s craftiness, that sneaky forehand, his foot speed and hands at the net are all so much fun to watch.

    I told Vince for him to possibly get Newport qualis wildcard and play for PMac’s team in the WTT, he’d have to play Rochester and Buffalo Futures and then I never heard back from him. I’m sure he’s playing well and his knee is feeling better, but he clearly doesn’t want to get back into the competitive pro tennis arena.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 24, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Sounds like the confidence isn’t there for Vince – reality is setting in – to try the comeback and get crushed 0606 would be a stain that he could never erase – if there’s doubts just stay put –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 25, 2016 at 4:56 am

    Very good article by Tignor about Stepanek yesterday saying that while players today play with a one-beat rhythm, Steppy plays with a two-beat. Meaning he doesn’t try to hit his first serve as hard as he can, he places it and then comes in for the volley. Some of his backhand volleys up the line yesterday were sublime. He takes the ball early on the volley, when it’s still above the level of the net, and that way he’s rarely hitting up on a volley.

    Interesting that Steppy doesn’t travel with a coach, but instead he’s got a fitness guy with him. Tursunov, who’s attempting a comeback at 34, and has suffered many injuries, said that if he had to do it again, he’d have hired a trainer to travel with him and he might’ve avoided some of those injuries.

    You don’t see any Americans, except for Michael Russell in recent years, trying to play into their 30’s. I wonder if it’s because of the training system in America where kids are playing so much tennis at such early years that by the time they get to 30, the love of the game has been pretty much snuffed out of them.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2016 at 8:00 am

    Isner is hitting 30 now though he never speaks of quitting soon – I think that trend of players playing for as long as possible will spread to americans also – Stepanek is such a unique story – journeyman doubles player in is early-mid 20s but Petr Korda sees him and tells him if you listen to me you can be top 25 in singles – Step listened and got to no 9 in the world –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 25, 2016 at 8:40 am

    Izzie actually just turned 31. I think American players of this generation might play longer because they haven’t made as much money as a Roddick, Fish and Blake. Guys like Ginepri and Spadea played longer probably to a degree because they didn’t make so much money.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Gulbis with a big win vs Seppi – that has to be Gulbis’ best win in over a year – Sock into the third round with a win over D Brown – Isner will be around for years and years if he stays healthy – IF he stays healthy –

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Ivo Karlovic is the oldest player to reach the 3R of a major since Jimmy Connors. Wow. He won a marathon overtime five setter today.

  • Dan Markowitz · May 25, 2016 at 1:57 pm

    Break the presses, Scoop, to American men are into the 3rd round of RG. And if you’re Sock and Izzie, you couldn’t ask for a better entre into the Rd of 16 with matches against Ramos-Vinolas and Gabashvili, respectively.

    Scoop, who do you like, Kyrgios or Gasquet in the next round?

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 25, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    Kyrgios. Kyrgios is playing incredible tennis. I think he has a good shot for the SF or even F.

  • Krzysztof Szafranski · May 26, 2016 at 6:35 am

    Blake and Fish had long career as well – both of them played until almost 34 years.

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 7:43 am

    Yes, but Fish was teetering along the last couple of years and Blake dropped out of top 100 and really wasn’t a factor. I guess Roddick leaving so early was a bit of a shock. It was similar with Sampras, of course, and Chang was a non-factor as was Courier after the age of 30.

    My 10-year-old son asked me the other day if there were any fat tennis players on tour and I said, no, how could there be. But I just saw my first fat player, Malek Jaziri. Maybe I just saw him at a bad angle, but he looks like he’s got quite a pouch on him.

    Wow, really bad week for the four Americans after Sock and Izzie. QBall, SteveJo, Taylor Fritz and DY won a total of 1 set in their four respective matches and that was the 7-6 set Qball won against another American, Frantangelo. And then Gasquet sent Frantangelo home in straight sets.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 8:02 am

    Taylor Townsend looks fat – Jaziri just has a different body type like Nalbandian – I don’t think he’s fat or out of shape – Fish was at his highest ranking around ten in the world and then the heart troubles and anxiety issues suddenly happened – and his last year was mysterious – I heard it said he was a suspect of a silent ban but who knows – then Fish tried those comebacks in challengers after long layoff and lost close matches and then he just sort of faded away – great player though – at Fish’s best he was right there with Fed and Djokovic and Andy – he was competing on just about even terms with the best – I still remember him giving Andy nightmares that one year he beat Andy like two or three times – and that one year Fish was top ten Federer practiced with Fish before US Open on Ashe and it was a helluva high quality practice –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 8:33 am

    Pleasure to watch Darcis battle Djoko. He’s giving him fits with the slice backhand and the slice serve out wide on the forehand.

    Tomic wins first set against Coric. That’s the best second round match. Darcis even gave a little Hewitt lawnmower pull on a winning forehand he hit behind Djoko. Another in a long line of small Belgium players.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 8:45 am

    Darcis is another little guy who plays like a giant – people forget Gaston Gaudio was only 5 ft 9 – Coria was around the same height – think we will ever see another major final contested by two guys under 6 ft tall? Highly unlikely –

  • Krzysztof Szafranski · May 26, 2016 at 8:49 am

    But Blake at the age of 32 was number 59 in the ranking. He was beating Nalbandian, Del Potro, Anderson, Benneteau, Granollers, Janowicz.

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 9:29 am

    Alright, Blake I guess did have some longevity. Look, he was a gamer. He even came out last year and played in the IPTL and got smoked by the doubles player, the Indian guy, Bopanna. But you don’t see American players having the longevity of say, the French players. Look at those guys, Gicquel, Mahut, Benneteau even Llorda until he retired last year. These guys never retire, Santoro. Their love of the game is so great.

  • Harold · May 26, 2016 at 10:32 am

    Just my opinion, but French players last longer, because, they dont seem to lose any sleep over losing matches, some realky do play for the joy of the game( Noah, Leconte, Tsonga, Monfils)and putting on a show is good enough.
    Only French guy I’ve seen eaten alive by his talent, is Gasquet. Wrong generation for him. Nadal got him early, and he knew he wasnt getting to 1, or winning Majors. The early hype stung. Dont really know what he could have done differently, except maybe work harder, but he’s a two a day guy during practice at the Open. Was the alternate the year I went to O2 Masters, RG was on the practice court all the time.
    Their make-up seems to be more easygoing. Less pressure, but hell, I’m not reading French papers ir blogs.

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    I think you’re right in your assessment, Harold. It’s Gulbis-mania! He beats the 26-seed Sousa and is into the 3rd rd. where he has to play Almagro, a winnable match.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Gasquet is too introverted to be a top star – he doesn’t like to do all the media obligations – he is quite content with his career and hovering around ten in the world and scoring the odd monster win every now and then – winning majors is not the only measurement of grading a great player – Gasquet is still a great player but I think due to his personality no matter what era he was born he would have always been a Todd martin type – just a slight notch below the best but still a great player regardless –

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    And I read on twitter the adjective “unbelievable” to describe how he played today – btw Gulbis has split with coach Bresnik because he wasn’t happy with being a second priority (to Thiem) – so Spadea should inquire again about coaching Gulbis now that he needs a new coach –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 8:34 pm

    Interesting what Gulbis said about the treatment the top players receive compared to the lower-ranks. Gulbis is now no. 80. He had this to say:

    “People in my situation have to beg for practice courts to get a court alone for one hour anytime during the day. And then you see seeded players who are there for two hours alone with a coach. How can you compete? We have one hour with four people on court against a guy who has prepared well, everything perfect…”

    “Tennis society has the shortest memory. You play bad for a couple of months and that’s it. Maybe not if you’re top-three or top-four guys who have been playing consistently well for many years then no, but guys like me…

    “I don’t want to compare it. But (Grigor) Dimitrov is struggling a little bit, he’s been top-10, he’s a really good player, how long is it going to take people to treat him differently? I’m not sure about this. If he’s going to play another year bad then he’s also in the same position like me. Sometimes it’s unfair but it gets you motivated to get back. But you realise much more the people around you.”

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 8:36 pm

    The Latvian has been in a bad cycle. He hurt his shoulder which resulted in his wrist starting to hurt, and then he couldn’t practice the way he likes, 5 hours a day on the court, and he said more than fitness, he needs to get his practice hours in to get his feel. But he also said the lousy treatment he’s receiving now motivates him to try harder to get back to top 10. I think he crescendo-ed at no. 13.

    Go Gulbis? Where’s Lorely when Gulbis needs him at Tennis-Prose.com?

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    Several players noted in Facing McEnroe how the top five players get special treatment from tennis authorities and officials – it’s not fair but that’s the way it is – interesting that Gulbis specifically cites the downward spiraling Dimitrov and that he admits he “played bad” for a year – it just makes the huge upsets by a guy like Spadea vs Agassi at Aus Open all the more special and inspiring when it happens –

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    I think most of all the losses to Thiem Zverev Kokkinakis and Coric really stung Gulbis and damaged his confidence – losing to the young kids on the tour is not supposed to happen – a proven veteran like Gulbis is supposed to teach those kids a lesson but instead Gulbis got schooled by teenagers and young Thiem – very very damaging mentally – big credit to Gulbis for persevering and accomplishing this quality run in Paris –

  • Dan Markowitz · May 26, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    Scoop,

    I just wrote Gulbis’s agent and said pretty much the same thing. If there’s a guy who knows how to recover from a bad patch and make it back to the top 20 (I know Gulbis would like to go higher, but maybe he should be realistic), it’s Spadea, who made his comeback at an older age than Gulbis is now, 29 to 27.

    Let’s see if this agent or Gulbis will consider Vince and if Vince (if there’s interest) will travel from his beloved LA and maybe go to London for Wimbledon or D.C. in the states.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 26, 2016 at 9:42 pm

    Dan: Gulbis should absolutely hire Spadea tomorrow morning – perfect timing for both of these outside the box tennis thinkers – hope common sense prevails and it happens –

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