Radek Stepanek



Birthdate: 27-Nov-78
Birthplace: Karvina, Czech Republic
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)
Weight: 167 lbs (75 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 1996
Coach: Tomas Krupa

Stepanek s'offre Gonzalez !

Radek Stepanek a créé une petite sensation dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi à Montréal en s'offrant le scalp de Fernando Gonzalez, tête de série numéro 6 du Masters Series et demi-finaliste de l'édition 2006 (jouée à Toronto). Lors de l'un des deux deuxième tour au programme, le Tchèque a eu raison du Chilien au terme d'une bataille acharnée (6-7, 7-6, 6-4) qui a laissé des traces chez le Sud-Américain (touché aux abdominaux, Gonzalez a fait appel au kiné à plusieurs reprises à la fin du troisième set).

www.sports.fr

La malédiction de «M. Hingis»

Caroline Touzin
La Presse

La malédiction de Martina Hingis ne semble pas affecter son copain actuel, Radek Stepanek, à Montréal. Du moins pour l'instant.

«Monsieur Hingis» comme le surnomment les médias américains, 63e au monde, a vaincu le Suédois Jonas Bjorkman 6-4 et 6-1, hier, en première ronde de la Coupe Rogers.

Faut dire que sa célèbre fiancée n'est pas dans la métropole pour l'encourager cette semaine. La 11e joueuse de tennis au monde est au tournoi de Los Angeles et devrait participer à la Coupe Rogers à Toronto la semaine prochaine.

C'est qu'au fil des années, Martina Hingis a brisé bien des coeurs... et des carrières! Tous ses ex ont été victimes de blessures après avoir succombé à son charme: Justin Gimelstob, Julian Alonso, recrue de l'année en 1997 et Magnus Norman, ancien numéro deux au monde. En novembre dernier, ne reculant devant rien, Stepanek a demandé Hingis en mariage.

Le joueur tchèque n'aime pas beaucoup son surnom de «Monsieur Hingis». «Je ne peux rien y faire. C'est l'une des conséquences de sortir avec Martina», a-t-il dit à La Presse, hier, après son match en insistant pour parler de «son tennis».

Tenu à l'écart des courts de juillet à décembre dernier en raison d'une blessure au cou, Stepanek s'est dit heureux d'être de retour sur le circuit. «Mon corps n'est pas à 100%, mais je suis content de pouvoir jouer au tennis à chaque jour. Et je commence à accumuler les victoires.» Le Tchèque a eu un début de saison 2007 difficile. Depuis juillet, cela va mieux. Il a remporté le tournoi de Los Angeles à la fin du mois en battant l'Américain James Blake, numéro 9 au monde, en finale, 7-6 (9/7), 5-7, 6-2.

Sa victoire d'hier contre l'un des vétérans du circuit, Bjorkman, représente pour lui une douce revanche. «J'ai perdu contre lui il y a deux ans à Wimbledon alors que j'avais un point de match. Je suis content d'avoir pris ma revanche», a-t-il indiqué. Stepanek, 28 ans, était huitième au monde l'été passé avant de mettre fin prématurément à sa saison.

cyberpresse.ca
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070806/CPSPORTS08/708060469/1002/CPSPORTS

Stepanek dans le carré d'as

Le vendredi 10 août 2007
Photo Patrick Sanfaçon, La Presse
AFP-Cyberpresse

Le Tchèque Radek Stepanek s’est qualifié pour les demi-finales de la coupe Rogers après avoir battu le Russe Nikolay Davydenko, tête de série numéro 14, 6-4,7-5 vendredi.

Pour une place en finale, Stepanek, 60e joueur mondial, affrontera le vainqueur de la rencontre opposant le Suisse Roger Federer, N.1 mondial et tenant du titre, à l'Australien Lleyton Hewitt.

N.8 mondial, l'an passé à la même époque, le Tchèque, qui deviendra M. Martina Hingis à l'automne, avait mis fin à sa saison en raison d'une blessure au cou.

Retombé à la 101e place mondiale, il a connu un début de saison difficile avant de renaître cet été. Demi-finaliste à Gstaad, après Wimbledon, Stepanek (28 ans) s'est ensuite imposé à Los Angeles fin juillet.

Face à Davydenko, régulièrement pris de vitesse par les frappes à plat de son adversaire, Stepanek a eu connu une seule frayeur. Servant pour le match à 6 jeux à 5, il a perdu sa mise en jeu sur la seule opportunité de break, que Davydenko s'est procurée.

Cette semaine, Stepanek, véritable clown sur un court, a stoppé trois têtes de série, le Chilien Fernando Gonzalez (N.6), l'Allemand Tommy Haas (N.12) et Davydenko (N.4).

cyberpresse.ca
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070810/CPSPORTS08/70810071/1002/CPSPORTS

Stepanek surprend Davydenko



10 août 2007 - Le Tchèque Radek Stepanek, 60e joueur mondial, s’est qualifié pour les demi-finales de la Coupe Rogers présentée par Banque Nationale, en disposant de la 4e tête de série, le Russe Nikolay Davydenko, 6-4 et 7-5 en matinée vendredi, au Stade Uniprix de Montréal.

Stepanek, dont la fiche à vie contre Davydenko est maintenant de quatre victoires et trois défaites, en était à son troisième gain de suite contre le numéro 5 mondial.

Davydenko a causé quelques frayeurs au Tchèque qui servait pour le match à 5-4 en deuxième manche. Il lui a pris le service, créant ainsi l’impasse. Mais,
à 5-5, Stepanek a remis à son adversaire la monnaie de sa pièce pour accéder au carré d’as.

Le Tchèque, un droitier de 28 ans, était 8e au classement ATP à la même date l’an dernier. Cependant, une blessure au dos subie lors d’un entraînement pour la Coupe Rogers de Toronto l’a forcé à quitter le circuit pendant le reste de l’année.

Il semble bien que Stepanek soit déterminé à reprendre son bien. Pour atteindre la demi-finale, qui aura lieu à 13 heures samedi, le fiancé de Martina Hingis a éliminé tour à tour le Suédois Jonas Bjorkman, le Chilien Fernando Gonzalez, 6e tête de série, l’Allemand Tommy Haas, 12e joueur mondial, et Davydenko.

Quant au Russe, perturbé par les incidents qui sont survenus lors de son retrait de la compétition en Pologne la semaine dernière, il a éprouvé des difficultés à mettre son jeu en place et à servir efficacement.

site officiel du tournoi
http://www.rogerscupmen.com/3/fr/news/2007/stepanek_10.asp

"Sé muy positiva siempre. Eso siempre ayuda a que salgan bien las cosas"
F.V. 16/09/2010

"Nadal es para mí un espejo donde mirarme para mejorar"
J.M. 12/05/2010

Toute l'actu de Javier Marti
Le blog Tennis Trotteur

Stepanek revient de loin

Dave Lévesque
Le Journal de Montréal
11/08/2007 07h24

Radek Stepanek a ajouté la tête de série numéro 4 Nikolay Davydenko (6-4 et 7-5 en quart de finale) a son tableau de chasse montréalais,mais le Tchèque est simplement heureux de pouvoir jouer au tennis.

À pareille date l'an dernier, Stepanek occupait le 8e rang du classement de l'ATP et se préparait à participer au tournoi de la coupe Rogers à Toronto quand son univers a basculé.

«Après deux jours d'entraînement, j'ai eu une sensation, comme si j'avais reçu un coup de couteau dans le cou», a-t-il expliqué.

Le diagnostic est surprenant: nerf coincé dans le coup. Les conséquences sont graves, son bras droit étant complètement paralysé.

«Je ne pouvais même pas bouger les doigts», se souvient le fiancé de Martina Hingis.

«Un soir, je me suis endormi devant la télé après le souper. Quand je me suis réveillé, j'ai voulu ramasser mon assiette sur la table en oubliant que j'étais paralysé. Elle est tombée et tout a cassé, même la table. À ce moment-là, je voulais pleurer», a raconté Stepanek.

Plusieurs médecins lui ont suggéré de se faire opérer, mais les résultats n'étaient pas garantis. Son docteur lui a dit d'attendre quelques mois.

Les semaines qui ont suivi ont été pénibles. L'attente, stressante.

"J'ai commencé à retrouver la sensation dans ma main après exactement trois mois.

«Ce fut une sensation incroyable!» de dire Stepanek, qui a profité de la vie pendant son congé forcé.

«J'ai mené une vie normale pour la première fois depuis que j'étais jeune. J'ai pu me coucher à l'heure que je voulais et manger ce que je voulais», concède-t-il.

Stepanek avoue aussi avoir regardé beaucoup de tennis, surtout féminin, à la télévision pendant les quatre mois où il n'a pu toucher à une raquette.

Pour le plaisir du tennis

Depuis le début de l'été, Stepanek est redevenu le joueur qu'il était. Il a triomphé au tournoi de Los Angeles et, surtout, il s'amuse sur le court.

"En raison de ma blessure, j'ai eu peur de ne plus pouvoir jouer au tennis, alors je suis simplement heureux de me lever le matin, de prendre une raquette et d'aller sur un court.

«Je veux profiter de chaque jour et de cette chance que j'ai. J'apprécie beaucoup plus ce que je fais maintenant que je sais que tout peut être terminé en claquant des doigts», explique-t-il.

Stepanek affronte Roger Federer en demi-finale aujourd'hui.

«Je sais que j'affronte un des meilleurs, mais dès que je sauterai sur le court, ce sera un adversaire comme les autres», assure Stepanek avec conviction.

Son histoire n'est pas banale et le public montréalais semble l'avoir adopté. Qui sait s'il se paiera une quatrième tête de série aujourd'hui.

Source

An interview with Radek Stepanek

August 10, 2007
R. STEPANEK/N. Davydenko
6‑4, 7‑5


Q. I think you're now 12‑2 since the beginning of July, one of the hotter players on the tour. What's changed for you? What's kind of sparked this?
RADEK STEPANEK: I think, you know, one of my decisions after Wimbledon, when the first half year was gone, I made only once the third round in six months, I took some time off, was home for 10 days working hard, and then decided to play quallies in Gstaad to get some matches, some extra matches.
You know, it worked well. I started winning matches. I got to the semis in Gstaad, straight through L.A., won the tournament. Played a great tournament again in Washington. You know, here, so far, I'm still in the tournament. So I think the decision after Wimbledon was a very good one what I did.
I think it's also paying off, the hard work I've been doing during those six months, even I was losing. I stayed patient, working hard. Now I think the last month is the time when it's paying off.

Q. "Staying patient." After you were serving for the match, he broke you. Is that an example of staying patient?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, definitely. If something wrong happens in the match, I'm still there. I'm not panic. I'm trying to play every single point, point by point.
Again, it paid off at 5‑All when he was 40‑15 up. You know, I stayed with him in the game. You know, I think the last ‑‑ from last nine points, he won only one. That shows that I've been patient. Yeah, that was it.

Q. Is the worm an ordinary finishing move for you?
RADEK STEPANEK: It's not normal (laughter). It's not normal. But, as I said yesterday, you know, I'm an emotional person. I just do it when I feel like.
You know, I felt twice like that, and I did it. I think the crowds like it, so why not?

Q. Have you felt a response from the crowd to your emotion?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, because the crowd here is so fair to everybody, trying to push everybody, you know, to play better and better. I feel the energy on the court. You know, we are here for the spectators, so I want to show them that we are also normal human being, and we can have fun also on the court.

Q. We saw you once having fun with the balls, when you kick it, it bounced to your head. Is that something that helps you to get off a bit of pressure? Do you do that normally?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I think it helps me, you know, to get somewhere else, not just into the points.
Actually, the ball had a bad bounce, hit my nose (smiling). What can I do? I just can laugh about it, about myself.
Yeah, definitely takes the pressure off.

Q. You might play next against Federer. Have you played him?
RADEK STEPANEK: I think I played him several times.

Q. Do you feel you're more confident now?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, you know, my confidence growed (sic) up ‑‑ growed a lot since Wimbledon, after I'm winning matches, beating guys from top 10. There is no better feeling. Nothing gives you more confidence than beating these guys.
Yeah, I beat Roger once so far. I remember I lost three or four times. But every day is a different situation. I will try to do my best to, you know, fight for my spot in the finals. And I think Roger is still playing, so we are a step ahead.

Q. What is it like playing Roger, being on the other side of the net from him?
RADEK STEPANEK: You know that you are playing one of the best players in the history of the game, definitely. But once you step on the court, it's just an opponent like anybody else. You have to try your best to beat him.
I think a lot of guys, we are trying that every single tournament where he is. I will say just one sentence: He's a living legend.

Q. You might be the only unseeded player in the semifinals. Is that an advantage, knowing that you have nothing to lose, you can just go out there and play a little looser? Can you play loose in that situation?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I can play looser even I was in top 10, I think (laughter).
But, you know, I know where I was, I know what I did, and I know what I'm able to do. If I'm seeded or not, it doesn't change much. Definitely change a lot, you know, once the draw is done. Then you can play first round against the top 10 guys.
Definitely would be great to be seeded again. But, you know, I have to stay patient and fight for my spot again to be there. I have to deserve it first.

Q. When you were going through that rough stretch, what was the reason for it?
RADEK STEPANEK: I don't know. I came back after injury, you know, thinking what I was doing before, just trying to remember all the stuff, because I didn't touch the racquet for four months. I didn't had the pressure for four months. I was living a normal life, which was great after playing tennis nearly every day since I was a kid (laughter).
You know, to get back the routines, to get back mentally, is very tough. Especially when I didn't feel my hand for a couple of months, then, you know, to get back all the touch, the feel, the power, it just takes time.
As I said, I've been patient what I was doing. You know, I'm happy that it's paying off. I'm on my way back.

Q. You have no problems now with the injury?
RADEK STEPANEK: Now, I don't have any problem. I still know the hand is not hundred percent, but I'm not complaining about it. I'm trying to play with what I have. I think so far I'm doing well (smiling).

Q. Yesterday you were jumping on one leg next to the net. Did it represent something?
RADEK STEPANEK: No, I was just enjoying. I missed the volley. I think I remember, because he hit a huge backhand straight to my body. I just wanted to block it, but I didn't. I was just making fun of it.

Q. Do you like to make fun on the courts a lot?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I like to play tennis, you know. Since my injury was very tough, it scared me a lot that there was a possibility that I will never touch the racquet again. So, you know, I'm very happy that I can wake up in the morning, take the racquet and go on the court.
So I want to enjoy every day. I have this chance. I want to enjoy it on the court.

Q. Did you change before the injury and after? Do you feel you have changed a little bit?
RADEK STEPANEK: Like a person?

Q. Person, player or?
RADEK STEPANEK: Definitely, I'm enjoying that much. I'm appreciating much more what I'm doing because I know in one second it can be over just like this (snapping fingers). That's why I'm enjoying it much more, appreciate it more.

Q. What was the worst moment after you got injured?
RADEK STEPANEK: The worst moment were the first two weeks, because I was not able to do anything with my hand. It was just paralyzed. In two weeks I lost all my muscles, all the touch, all the feel, everything. I was not even able to open the doors, lift up the plate, nothing. So that was, for me, the most scary moment so far.
I didn't want to see anybody those two weeks. I just went to the hospital to see the doctor, get the injections, get the infusions, because I had a spasm around the nerve. Yeah, that was everything what I was doing during the day. Didn't want to talk to anybody. In that moment, I was really down.

Q. Do you remember when you started to feel the hand again, like maybe it was going to come back?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, it happened exactly after three months. Because my doctor, the doctors, they wanted ‑‑ I was going through some different tests to see how the nerve is going, if the nerve is able to re‑live (sic) again. After those tests, five out of six doctors told me they want to operate straight, that I have to take the surgery.
But just my doctor said, Wait two, three months, give yourself a chance. If it's coming back slowly, you have a chance that one day it's going to be good again. Because I tell you, honestly, if you will go for a surgery, then the result is not guaranteed. It's the worst spot in the whole spine to operate and there is no guaranteed result.
That scared me even more (laughter). You know, I've been exercising with him every single day, hoping that it's going to come back. When it came back, it was just a relief.

Q. Do you know how you got injured?
RADEK STEPANEK: They said that there are a million reasons why it happened. He said, You can have it already five years and you don't know about it, and just one small thing, like you fell asleep in the plane in bad position, the air‑conditioning is coming, more stress, one bad golf shot. Really, whatever, can bring this injury up.
So I never looked for a reason. I accept ‑‑ I was accepting what happened. I had to fight against it.

Q. So did you just wake up one day and all of a sudden...
RADEK STEPANEK: No, it happened here in Canada.

Q. Is that right?
RADEK STEPANEK: Last year. But definitely Montréal is much nicer to me than was Toronto last year (laughter). After Wimbledon last year, I got to the top 10 the first time. I was playing my best tennis. Then I took some time off practicing really hard, feeling just great coming into Toronto. After two days practicing, one day I came to the court, I was already warmed up, everything, waiting for the guys to finish the practice, and suddenly felt like somebody put the knife to my neck (snapping fingers).
I said, Geez, what happened? Called my coach, if he can loose me up, the neck. I hit one shot, I said, I'm not able to turn, what's going on? I went to the physio room. I said, Guys, I'll be back in five minutes, I just need to unblock it. I was there for two and a half hours, and since then I didn't touch the racquet.
That happened when I was standing still (smiling).

Q. What was it like when you were able to start opening doors, lifting up plates?
RADEK STEPANEK: That happened after three months, two and a half months. That was amazing feeling (smiling).
But still, with the fingers, the worst thing were fingers, because they're far from the heart, and they're coming last together. Those two fingers, I was not able to leave them on the same level as the others. Was just bones, and I was not able to do anything.
When I was starting to feel it, it was just great. Once I woked up in the night after I fall asleep in the living room watching the TV. I had some plate from the dinner on the table. I forgot I'm not able to do anything. I lift it, fell down. The table was broken, plate was broken. In that moment, I was nearly crying. That was the worst moment.

Q. You said you enjoyed regular life. What was that like after so many years?
RADEK STEPANEK: You know, I should go sleep whenever I wanted. I should eat whatever I wanted. I had no schedule for the day. I just had to go to the hospital to do my exercises. That was it. Was simple life.
But I missed this (laughter).

Q. Do you still have treatment for your injury?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I have to do exercise like two, three hours a day. There were some special exercises with my doctor which had to do himself. I was not able to do them alone because they were reflex exercises. They were based on the concentration. The 20 minutes exercising with him, it's like ‑‑ I felt after that like playing tennis for six hours.

Q. He always traveled with you?
RADEK STEPANEK: No, I've been home. I was in Prague. Spent some time in Switzerland. I was only home. Wherever he was, I was. I followed him like a dog (panting).

Q. You don't do that any more?
RADEK STEPANEK: Not any more. After Wimbledon, I took again 10 days. I was exercising every day at 7 in the morning with him, or with his colleague. They teach me, you know, the small work with the fingers. There were some funny stories. They tried to teach me how to move the pen between the fingers. One day, he said, I will come to check, you know, after two, three days how you doing. Suddenly he came in. I said, Look how I'm doing. I did one, two, and the third one, the pen floats straight to his head. I said, I'm getting better (laughter).
Since that, they call me Iceman from Top Gun from how he was sitting and moving the pen around.

Q. How difficult was it to be out of the top hundred?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, you know what, the last year, the first six months, my tennis was very average. I was in the finals in Hamburg. I won Rotterdam. I was quarters in Wimbledon. So the first six months last year were very strong. For the first six months, I didn't even use my protected ranking. So far, I used it for the first time for this tournament. So the points were going slowly by surely away when I was losing.
Definitely was not a good feeling. I had to get myself to go. Now I hope I'm back in top 50 and moving forward again.

Q. Did you ever watch tennis when you were out?
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, definitely. I watched a lot of tournaments. Like just don't forget it, don't watch it. Always have to know what's going on (smiling).

Q. Do you think you are a better player now than last year at the same time?
RADEK STEPANEK: Actually, same time last year? Last year same time, I was not a tennis player any more (laughter).

Q. But before the injury...
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I feel I'm getting closer. I'm getting closer. The last month, I'm playing very well. Now I just have to keep it up, you know, stay consistent with my game. I believe I can get back to my position.

Q. So do you think doing the worm is a good idea?
RADEK STEPANEK: You know, I did it for the first time when I won last year in Rotterdam, my first tournament. Since that it goes with me (smiling).

Q. During the injury, did you watch more women's or the men's?
RADEK STEPANEK: Both. I watched both. I had more interest in the women's (smiling).

Q. You said you did the worm at Rotterdam. Must be dirtier on the clay.
RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I didn't won a tournament on clay so far, so... My shirts are still clean (smiling).


site officiel
http://www.rogerscupmen.com/2/fr/draws/interviews/stepanek_10.asp

"Sé muy positiva siempre. Eso siempre ayuda a que salgan bien las cosas"
F.V. 16/09/2010

"Nadal es para mí un espejo donde mirarme para mejorar"
J.M. 12/05/2010

Toute l'actu de Javier Marti
Le blog Tennis Trotteur

Tennis - ATP Tour - 11/08/2007 - 22:55
Stepanek-Hingis, c'est fini

La grande idylle du tennis professionnel entre l'ancienne N.1 mondiale Martina Hingis et Radek Stepanek est officiellement finie. Le Tchèque a effectué son annonce après sa défaite en demi-finale du MS Canada, devant Roger Federer.

Source

Stepanek annule le mariage avec Hingis

dim 12 aou, 07h38

MONTREAL (AP) - Le joueur de tennis tchèque Radek Stepanek a fait savoir samedi soir qu'il avait rompu avec la championne suisse Martina Hingis, qu'il devait épouser. Il n'a pas donné de raison.

"Lui et Martina Hingis se sont séparés mais resteront bons amis, c'est tout ce qu'il a à dire", a déclaré Stephen Duckitt, porte-parole de l'ATP, l'organisation du circuit professionnel masculin, après la défaite de Stepanek contre le Suisse Roger Federer au tournoi ATP de Montréal.

Radek Stepanek, tête de série N°10, avait fait sa demande en mariage Prague en novembre. Martina Hingis, quintuple gagnante du Grand Schelem et ancienne N°1 mondiale au classement WTA, avait annoncé leurs fiançailles aux médias en décembre en Australie, en exhibant une bague en diamants.

yahoo.fr
http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/12082007/29/stepanek-annule-le-mariage-avec-hingis.html

Tennis - ATP Adelaide - 31/12/2007 - 10:08
Stepanek blessé

Radek Stepanek, tête de série N.5 à Adelaïde, a dû abandonner au premier jour du tournoi australien en raison d'une blessure au talon droit. Le Tchèque a succombé face au local Joe Sirianni qui a bénéficié d'une invitation, après 7-6 (7/3), 4-3 en faveur de l'Australien.

L'ancien numéro 8 mondial a déclaré aux journalistes qu'il ne n'était pas retiré en raison de la chaleur accablante avec des températures avoisinant les 42 degrés Celsius.

"C'est sans aucun doute la température la plus élevée dans laquelle j'ai jamais joué. Aux Etats-Unis, il fait aussi très chaud sur certains tournois mais il y a beaucoup d'humidité alors qu'ici c'est très sec", a-t-il dit. "Les joueurs arrivent ici et quelques uns sont déjà malades ou blessés, a-t-il relevé. Sur le court, il peut faire jusqu'à 50 degrés, c'est certainement trop."

Stepanek n'a pas été la seule tête de série à tomber dès cette première journée: l'Argentin Juan Martin Del Potro (N.7) a été sorti par l'Américain Michael Russell 6-3, 6-3.

Source

Video
Radek Stepanek nous raconte comment il fait " The worm"
(30love.com)

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/stepanek_worm.asp