06.06.2014 14:46:30 | It was supposed to be one of the most attractive matches at the UniCredit Czech Open. However, the repetition of the last year’s finals turned out to be very nervous on both parts. Vesely lost his first serve, Stepanek increased the lead to 2:0, then Vesely narrowed the gap to 2:1, and Stepanek did not convert his first great chance to 3:1. He lost his lead and the score was 2:2. A series of lost serves by both players followed. The decisive moment came at 6:5 when Stepanek lost his serve and Vesely won the first set 7:5. The second set was decided in a tiebreak in which Vesely absolutely dominated. Stepanek only scored the first point at 4:0 and lost 1:7.
“I lost the match myself. I made many mistakes and had weak moments in the match. But that’s what I struggled with all week long,“ said Stepanek after the match. “Vesely didn’t cause me make mistakes. I made them myself. The match was developing in my favour. I broke his serve and took the lead at 2:0. In the second set, I was also leading 5:2. Then, there came my weak moments. I almost stopped to play. It probably wasn’t a spectacular match but it just happens sometimes. It’s been up and down for me all week. Now, it’s important the clay season is over for me and I’m getting ready for the grass. I’m leaving for Quenns and after a week’s preparation I should be at Wimbledon in the middle of the following week,“ said the sad defender of the title.
