Czech shows backbone to climb ranks

The former world No 8 overturned the formbook with a 7-6 5-7 6-2 victory against tournament favorite James Blake of the US to clinch his second ATP title.

"I am feeling with every match better and better," Stepanek, 28, told reporters after upsetting the second seed at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

"I know I can still improve my game and I am getting stronger mentally which is for me very important.

"I am on my way back there (to the top 10) but I know that it will take time, patience and hard work."

Stepanek's ATP ranking has plummeted to 101st following his nightmare finish to the 2006 season. He suffered a neck injury while practising in Toronto in August. For a while, he feared his professional career might be over.

"I didn't play tennis for six months and, at one point, I was scared I was not going to play tennis any more," he said.

Because of a dislocated disc in his neck, he lost touch, feel and power in his right hand.

Tough moment

"It was like the hand was not mine - I felt paralysed," he said. "It was a very tough moment for me but the doctor gave me hope while I was injured.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to come back or not. But I came back and I can't complain today."

Stepanek, whose fiancee is former world No 1 Martina Hingis, had a brief health scare playing in the cold temperatures of Gstaad last week.

"It was nine degrees and I called my doctor and I was nearly crying because I was not able to change the grip in my hand during the rally," the Czech recalled.

"I said to him: 'Don't tell me the injury is coming again.' Then suddenly I am coming here to LA and it is 30 degrees, the heat is great and I am feeling the hand completely different.

"Maybe I should move to the States," he added with a smile.

Stepanek celebrated his second ATP hardcourt title with a short breakdance before hurling his racket into the stands and falling flat on his back.

"I'm the kind of person who shows emotions because once I tried to play and show zero emotion on the court and I lost the match 6-0 6-1," he said.

"I was counting points, not the games. So that match told me that I can't play with a poker face."

High praise

Blake paid tribute to Stepanek's serving after being upset by the unseeded Czech in the final on Sunday.

"He served great today, especially in the third set," the second-seeded American told reporters after losing 7-6 5-7 6-2. "It seemed like he wasn't missing first serves at all. Every time I had a look, it was on a first serve.

"Today I just couldn't quite come up with the shots at the right times. He came up with great shots in that tiebreaker to save set points and he served great in the third set. So I can't hang my head too low about that."

Stepanek breezed through the final set in just 30 minutes after twice breaking Blake, winning 92 percent of his first serve.

Stepanek was ranked 101st at the start of this week, having been sidelined for six months last year because of a neck injury.

Blake, who ended 2006 as the American No 1 and ranked in the world's top five, expects the Czech to continue his rise back up the ATP pecking order.

"If he keeps playing like this he has a chance to get back there but it's a question of doing it consistently," the American said. "The top guys play that extra high level the whole time."

Agencies

(China Daily 07/24/2007 page19)