Tennis Prose




Mar/12

30

Radek Stepanek Biofile


By Scoop Malinowski

Status: ATP #25 ranked player. Winner of five career ATP singles and 14 doubles titles. Winner of 2012 Australian Open in doubles. Helped lead Czech Republic to Davis Cup final in 2009 (loss to Spain). 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: “I think, singles-wise, my first title, definitely, in Rotterdam (2006). 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.”

6 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 30, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    I got this Biofile with Steps about 45 minutes after they beat The Bryans on court one. He was waiting in the valet for his ride to hotel. Some nice insights from Stepanek here. BTW, for a random fact, Steps worse his green shirt tucked in in the doubles match vs. the Bryans, he is the only ATP player who tucks in his shirt today. )

  • Mitch · March 30, 2012 at 6:05 pm

    I’m surprised his favorite Masters isn’t Paris; he’s put up some really good results there.

  • Steve · March 30, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    Does anyone know the last time he did the worm/centipede after a win?

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 30, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Steve you are the grand winner of the RF hat contest! The winner was 35, you were just two off. Good job and congrats! Yes Step seems to have stopped the worm, but I have a feeling we’ll see it again if he can win an event this year. And by the looks of things, it could happen soon.

  • Gdark23 · April 1, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    Steps did the worm in DC last summer after he beat Monfils to with the title.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 1, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    Thanks G Dark, presume Steps saves the worm for appropriate moments of achievement in singles, looked like he just did a new dance for the doubles triumph yesterday. Welcome to the site.

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