02.06.2015 17:04:43 | Radek Štěpánek has won the UniCredit Czech Open challenger in Prostějov three times. However, he was ousted from the tournament in the first round this year. After an over two-hour battle, the thirty-six year old Czech lost to the three year younger Paul-Henri Mathieue of France in three sets. “It was very hard for me. Let alone I played with a handicap for two and a half sets. I don’t want to make excuses but it influenced my game and my motion. I tried to do my best to succeed and win the match somehow. I fought till the end but I just couldn’t have made it. I fell down and bruised my right side and my right hand. I couldn’t play backhand very well and just hit the ball over the net. When I was supposed to create something, I just couldn’t. I don’t want to make excuses but I tried to do my best in spite of the condition I was in. I really couldn’t play any better,“ said Štěpánek.
Štěpánek really had to battle hard to win the second set, Paul-Henri Mathieue of France was in decline. “It’s a pity I didn’t take advantage at the beginning of the third set. He played well from the beginning which was decisive. The match didn’t end like I wished it would. However, I fought till the end. It is what my game is based on, I always fight. I don’t want to belittle his performance. He almost made it to the top ten. He is very experienced and he was a very tough opponent. He plays fast from the base line and has a big serve.“
Did you feel support from the crowd at the Central Court? “Definitely! Everybody supported me till the end. It’s always been an honor for me to perform for the domestic crowd in Prostejov and it always will. The more I’m sorry to quit here.“ And what is next on Štěpánek’s agenda? “I’m going to play tournaments in Stuttgart and Halle and then take a week off before Wimbledon. I’ll see what I can do. I don’t want any more injuries," he said.
