04.06.2013 15:01:24 | Radek Štěpánek feels healthy after the victory over Victor Estrella from the Dominican Republic in the first round of the UniCredit Czech Open. "I have been feeling healthy for a past few weeks. I can fully engage in training, no limitations, nothing is stiff or sore, no problems whatsoever. I must carry on and hopefully I'll get into it. To see guys who came back after surgeries, e.g. Robredo who took two years and now he is doing very well at Roland Garros, is a great motivation for me. Such as my neighbor Tommy Haas whom I saw in a condition I was in a few months ago and now he is almost back in the top ten. These are things that motivate me and it is a proof that it's possible. I just have to be patient.“
You won this tournament two times - in 2003 and 2004, your motivation must be high to try for the third time. "I always come to Prostějov with the same intention - to achieve the best possible result. I was near another title a few times but now, after the injury, the situation is that every match won is a great victory for me and I can say such victory is also the best treatment. This is the therapy I want to take here!"
You mentioned Haas, did you speak to him about returning after the surgery? "I know he has had a few shoulder and hip surgeries, I have seen him start training afterwards and I know what he felt. I am now feeling the same. Everyone is unique, I remember moments when I was not able to hit a ball at training. I know what it is like, I know what is going through your head. One wants something so badly but sometimes you don't get it immediately. Haas took nearly two years and only now he is getting back to shape. You cannot cheat the time. I hope I will also manage to get back to shape soon. At the moment I feel fifty to sixty per cent."
Does a match like this one give a player a chance to test new things and game elements? "When you lead the match and you have two breaks, you may try something that you want to work on, or something you are not good at. A match is the best training, that's true. At the moment, I do not have too much time to lord it over someone but if there is a chance I try but every point is important for me."
Today, you also tried serve from volley, was that the case? "I tried it but I did not had too many chances after my serve. But as I said, it's all about trying, working on it, trying to improve. Nothing else than hard work will get me back. This particular element is an important part of my game and with the time, and self-confidence one can be more and more cheeky and I will always play at the net. All tennis players improve. They are all equal at the back and small things decide today's tennis matches. Serve from volley will always be rarely played, I think the only other one who plays at the net like that is Lopez."
What about other tournaments? "At the moment, I am in Prostějov and must fully concentrate on that. I want to achieve as much as possible, concentrate on each match. I will decide about other tournaments and matches depending on the result of this tournament."
