Issue #1291 (57), Tuesday, July 24, 2007

SPORT

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Stepanek Takes Step Closer To Regaining Top-10 Rank

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

Reuters

LOS ANGELES — Czech Radek Stepanek, sidelined for six months last year because of a neck injury, set his sights on regaining a top-10 ranking after winning the Los Angeles Classic on Sunday.

The former world number eight overturned the formbook with a 7-6 5-7 6-2 victory over tournament favourite James Blake of the U.S. 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.

“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 number one 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.”