30.05.2011 16:35:15 | Defending champion, three fold winner of UniCredit Czech Open, Jan Hajek, won the first round match against American Michael Russel 6:4, 7:5 although he was close to throwing a towel onto the court. “I felt terrible pain in my calf muscle so I had to call a physiotherapist. I somehow endured one set and a half but at the end it was a miracle that I finished the game. If I didn’t win the second set I wouldn’t have played the third one …"
"However, I was puzzled about Russel’s approach. He did not play very brightly; he made no advantage of my handicap. I only had one chance and that was to risk and hope that I will keep fit till the end and finally succeed.” Can Hajek get alright by Wednesday? “I hope to be alright and I start working on it right now, I don’t think I will take part in the double tomorrow, I need to discuss it with Ivo Mináø. I will try my best to be in a good shape on Wednesday.” In the second round it will be Russian Youzhny waiting for Jan Hajek to meet on the court: “I am not paying any attention to this, Prostejov tournamnet is one of the best stuffed challengers and one cannot be discouraged by the draw … organizers collected amazing players for free cards and the competition is really very tough. I do not want to look at names, my only concern now is to be OK for Wednesday.”
