Radek Stepanek life and biography

Radek Stepanek is a professional tennis player from the Czech Republic.

CAREER:

Singles Titles
2009: San Jose, Brisbane
2007: Los Angeles
2006: Rotterdam

Doubles Titles
2009: San Jose
2006: Marseille
2005: Dubai, Marseille
2004: Delray Beach, Stuttgart, Rotterdam
2003: Milan
2002: Munich
2001: Vienna, Munich, Estoril
1999: Prague

The Czech is a workhorse player who has reached a high of No. 8 and won four career titles. Radek Stepanek is one of the few players left who serves and volleys regularly, and he has a penchant for antagonizing his opponents. Stepanek may be best known for doing the “Worm” dance after big wins, and for being engaged to both Martina Hingis and Nicole Vaidisova.

2010:
Stepanek returned to the Brisbane International to defend the title he won in the previous year (d. Verdasco). He managed to make a second-successive final appearance; but failed to defend the title, losing to Andy Roddick 6–7(2), 6–7(7). He also teamed up with Tomáš Berdych to reach the doubles quarter-finals, only to lose to eventual champions Jérémy Chardy and Marc Gicquel. Seeded 13th at the 2010 Australian Open, he lost in the 1st round to Ivo Karlović in five sets; 6–2, 6–7(5), 4–6, 6–3, 4–6.

2011:
Stepanek began the 2011 ATP season with a third successive appearance at the 2011 Brisbane International, hoping for a third successive finals appearance, despite only being ranked #62 in the ATP rankings. For the first round he was drawn against world #67, German Tobias Kamke. Despite struggling for the firt set of the match, he eventually won 5–7 6–1 6–4, to set up a second round match against the American Mardy Fish, the fourth seed in the tournament. Stepanek blazed through the match, thrashing the world #16 Fish 6–3 6–1. In the quarter-final against seventh seed and world #37 Florian Mayer he had a dominant start, leading 5–1 in the first set before Mayer managed to break Stepanek's service. However, he continued his winning streak, emerging victorious 6–3 6–3 to place himself in the first semi-final against Robin Soderling, where he lost.

PERSONAL:

Nicknamed "Steps" by his countrymen
Began playing at age three with his father, Vlastimil, who is a tennis coach; mother, Hana, is a librarian; brother, Martin, is a policeman
His hometown of Karvina is an industrial mining town in north of Czech Republic near Polish border
Admired Ivan Lendl while growing up
Hobbies are playing soccer, floorball and hockey (wanted to be a goalie as a youngster)
His favorite NHL players are countrymen Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek
Enjoys playing on all surfaces
Considers his serve as best shot
Since 2001, has worked with countryman Petr Korda in Bradenton, Florida part-time
Has an 8-6 career Davis Cup record (4-1 in doubles) in six ties
Best friend on tour is countryman Jiri Novak
Coached by countryman Tomas Krupa (since November 2001).

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