Match report

Radek Stepanek © Tennistalk.com
Internazionali BNL d Italia
Semi final
5/10/08 Tot
cz  Radek Stepanek
rs  Novak Djokovic Radek Stepanek Retired
Novak Djokovic © Tennistalk.com

  • Djokovic Rolls Over Hobbled Stepanek

    5/10/08 8:09 PM | Ricky Dimon
    Andy Roddick retired in his semifinal clash against Stanislas Wawrinka and it only got worse for the fans at the Masters Series Rome. Radek Stepanek pulled out after just seven games, allowing Novak Djokovic free entry into the title match.

    What started out as a promising day of tennis turned into a disaster, as both semifinals at the Masters Series Rome ended in retirements. After Andy Roddick called it quits just three games into his match against Stanislas Wawrinka, Radek Stepanek handed Novak Djokovic the win when trailing 6-1, 1-0.

    It was especially disappointing because while it could have been Roger Federer vs. Djokovic, Stepanek-Djokovic had all the makings of a potential classic. After all, just last year they squared off in a 2007 U.S. Open second-round epic that was hard-fought but also contested in great spirits, with Djokovic surviving 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(2) in four hours and 41 minutes.

    But on Saturday in Rome, Stepanek was unable produce the same stuff he had shown in that match and in his huge upset of Federer on Friday. The Czech looked physically drained right from the start and he struggled to win any points at all. Djokovic consistently hammered away at his opponent’s forehand—the much weaker side—and Stepanek had no answer. The 29-year-old veteran won a mere seven points total in a 22-minute first set. He sprayed 12 errors while striking just one winner. A long medical timeout in between sets did nothing to help Stepanek and he retired one game later.

    “I am very sorry, especially for the fans, but I just could not finish the match today,” Stepanek 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.”

    “I don't like to win like this and I'm sorry for the fans who paid a lot for tickets to watch a great show,“ added Djokovic.

    The Serb will meet Stanislas Wawrinka in Sunday’s final. Djokovic holds a narrow 3-2 head-to-head advantage over the Swiss; most recently he pulled off a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory in the quarterfinals of the Masters Series Indian Wells.

  • Thumbs up

    Djokovic was in complete cruise control mode and it would have been hard to imagine him losing even against a 100 percent opponent.

  • Thumbs down

    Just awful luck for the fans who were expecting to see two exciting semifinal matches.

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