Tag Archives: Stepanek

An Effect So Poetic

Davis Cup, Final Until last year the tiny proportion of the Czech Republic concentrated in its Davis Cup team had not won the Davis Cup since 1980. They’ve now won it for the second year in a row, by fielding … Continue reading

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Five Great Years

Tommy Haas, No.21 As I write, Tommy Haas is losing amiably to Roger Federer at an exhibition in Sao Paulo, although he earlier proved beyond question that he is the Swiss player’s superior as a dancer. He also demonstrated back … Continue reading

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Shredding The Lions

Davis Cup Final, Day Three Ferrer d. Berdych, 6/2 6/3 7/5 Stepanek d. Almagro, 6/4 7/6 3/6 6/3 The Czech Republic has defeated Spain in the one hundredth final of the Davis Cup. Astute historical observers might note that the … Continue reading

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Lessons Learned

Davis Cup Final, Day One Ferrer d. Stepanek, 6/3 6/4 6/4 Berdych d. Almagro, 6/3 3/6 6/3 6/7 6/3 The first day of the 2012 Davis Cup final has been completed, with the Czech Republic and the constitutional monarchy of … Continue reading

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Peaking at the Right Time

Nice, Final (3) Almagro d. (Q) Baker, 6/3 6/2 Nicolas Almagro today defeated Brian Baker in the final of the Open de Nice Côte d’Azur, thereby defending his title, and ruining the best feel-good story the sport has known in … Continue reading

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When Only Gods Remain

Miami Masters, Third Round Dimitrov d. (7) Berdych, 6/3 2/6 6/4 Unlike last year, when Miami suffered a minor Götterdämmerung that saw handfuls of lesser deities cut down in the early going, the divine ranks have this year held together remarkably … Continue reading

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Good Clean Fun

‘Watch Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt take on China’s finest, tonight at the Hopman Cup!’ implored my television, via a promo pregnant with subtext. The subtext read that Hewitt is no longer Australia’s finest, and that China’s finest – Wu Di – … Continue reading

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Deuced Flat

Washington, Final Stepanek d. (1) Monfils, 6/4 6/4 Radek Stepanek today defeated Gael Monfils in straight sets in the Washington final, a putative upset that has been widely attributed to the vagaries of scheduling, as though a poor Monfils performance … Continue reading

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Weeks Like This

The biggest problem with weeks like this, in which three concurrent 250 tournaments have snuck in just as the clay season hits its stride in Madrid, is that for the most part the events are disposable. Understandably, players are unwilling … Continue reading

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Hardcourt Retrospective (Part 2)

Welcome to my continuing look back at the hardcourt season just ended. The first part, which goes into slightly more detail about why I’m even bothering, can be found here. Part One looked at the top players. This part examines … Continue reading

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