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3/8/09 4:33 AM | Ricky Dimon
Radek Stepanek has a chance to close out the opening-round Davis Cup tie between France and the Czech Republic when he faces Gilles Simon on Sunday afternoon.
Radek Stepanek made amends for a Friday singles loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga by teaming up with fellow Czech Tomas Berdych to win Saturday's doubles rubber. Stepanek and Berdych defeated Michael Llodra and Richard Gasquet 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and four minutes to give the host Czech Republic a 2-1 lead over France in the first round of the 2009 Davis Cup.
With the doubles victory, Stepanek now has opportunity to clinch the tie for his Czech squad when he squares off against Gilles Simon on Sunday afternoon. It will be the third career meeting between the two players and the head-to-head series is all tied up at one apiece. Stepanek won in straight sets at last season's French Open, but Simon got revenge in straight sets at the year-end Masters Cup.
While Simon was simply on fire late last season--and throughout most of the Masters Cup--now it is Stepanek who is in the midst of an incredible hot streak. The 30-year-old Czech has already captured two ATP titles in 2009, in Brisbane and San Jose. He also--most recently--reached the Memphis final before falling to Andy Roddick. The 18th-ranked Stepanek heads into this Davis Cup tie with an impressive 16-4 match record so far this season, including Friday's setback against Tsonga.
Simon's breakout 2008 campaign consisted of titles in Indianapolis and Bucharest last summer, and he really announced himself as a contender by reaching the final of the Masters Series Madrid. The previously little-known Frenchman got into the Masters Cup when Rafael Nadal had to pull out and Simon qualified for the semifinals after beating Stepanek. So far this season he has two semifinal finishes and an appearance in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Like Stepanek, Simon also went down on Friday. He fell to Tomas Berdych in four sets in the opening singles rubber.
One would normally thing that the indoor carpet of Ostrava favors Stepanek, thanks to his superior serve and aggressive style of play. That potential advantage, however, comes into question since Simon won their only hard-court encounter while Stepanek prevailed on clay. What will be a huge edge for Stepanek, of course, is the pro-Czech crowd. In what looks like an otherwise even matchup, don't be surprised if the fans carry Stepanek to a five-set triumph.
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The duck won.
smr , 3/8/09 3:58 PM
Oh no! Home ground and experience was too much for French team, but they'll be right back!
deuce , 3/8/09 5:44 PM
Now how is this possible!!! Urgh.. I'm pulling my hair out!!
He should be put in an oven and roasted!
remi , 3/9/09 4:28 AM
Radek Stepanek, congratulations on your win. You're a good player and fighter. Plus you have one of the best personalities in tennis. What you lack in looks, you make up for in irritating Remi ;P . I could picture Radek right now, he'd look at you, shrug, throw in a shimmy here and there, throw up his arms and then say... "C'est la vie!" :D
As for Team France, this is definitely just the beginning. Tsonga did a great job of handling himself and coming up with the two wins (although one of them was a dead rubber). Simon however still has a lot to learn. Their team is still very new, but they have a great line-up. No doubt they will be a force to recon with in the future.
MiniArbre , 3/10/09 12:36 AM
It's not just his looks Mini - that's superficial no doubt. It's his screaming on court at the most inappropriate moments that I find unacceptable. At the Sydney tournament, Simon had a few things to say about the duck screaming when Simon was about to hit a shot/volley. C'est la vie if that's how he likes ot win!
remi , 3/10/09 4:57 AM
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Simon better beat this ugly screaming duckling !!
remi , 3/8/09 6:05 AM