07.06.2014 09:32:04 | It was clear after the semifinals that there will not be a four-time champion of the UniCredit Czech Open. Radek Stepanek was the only one who had a chance. He won in 2003, 2004, and the last year after a period of ten years. Jan Hajek has also won three times but he could not play in Prostejov because of his injured knee. Jiri Vesely lost in the finals last year. He has another chance this year. Similarly, Norbert Gombos is the second Slovak in the finals. The first Slovak who has played the final match was Dominik Hrbaty in 2006. He was defeated by Jan Hajek then.
“Gombos will be a tough opponent for Jiri. He has improved greatly and he is on a winning streak,“ said Jaroslav Navratil, coach of Vesely, before the finals. “Jiri has to be active. He mustn’t give Gombos an opportunity to play his game and dictate the pace.“
According to their head to head results 4:1 up to now, the three year younger Vesely is a clear favourite. He only lost to the Slovak once at a futures tournament in 2011. Vesely is also higher in the ATP ranking. Vesely occupies the 81st position and Norbert Gombos 166th position.
What does Petra Cernoskova, tournament director, think about the finals? “We were one match away from the finals featuring strictly Prostejov players. You could tell Adam was running out of power. Moreover, he played doubles with Jiri until the semifinals. Gombos has performed excellent tennis here in Prostejov. He beat the second-seeded Haase in one of the best matches of the tournament. He has improved greatly. Jiri Vesely is playing finals again after a year. I believe he will bring it to a successful end this time and become the champion of the UniCredit Czech Open.“
