TMS - MADRID

October 19, 2005

Radek Stepanek

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Radek.

RADEK STEPANEK: I think, you know, I felt that Tim was -- Tim knew that we played last week, we played the last week in Vienna, very tough match. You know, I had a lot of confidence from that last week. So I came to the match, as I said, with the confidence. That showed in the first -- in the beginning of the match, that I felt that he knows that it's going to be a tough match. I think I was serving pretty well and I was returning pretty well all match. So I think that was the difference. I'm very happy that I went through because I felt in the morning that I'm not going to even step up on the court.

RADEK STEPANEK: It was actually my neck because I woked up this morning and I said to my coach, "I'm not able to turn. I don't know what happened, but I can't move." So we just came in the morning here to see the physiotherapist here. They been just working for two and a half hours on my neck before the match, and I didn't had a warm-up, nothing. And I felt, you know, like 20 minutes before the match that I'm just going to try to play. And suddenly they put something on my neck, some hot cream. When I was start to sweating a little bit, then the pain was going away. I still feel it, but I was able to play, which I have to give a great respect for the physios, what they did with me in two and a half hours.

RADEK STEPANEK: You know what, I'm feeling that this year I'm playing my best tennis in my career so far. Also, as you said, I think Tim -- it's not Tim's best year so far. So I think there are both aspects in your question. You know, it was -- it's always for me very, very tough to play him because he's mixing up the game. He knows to play very well serve and volley. He's got a big, big forehand, you know, inside-out. You know, for me, I don't like his game, if I have to be honest. You know, last two matches I won. I'm happy for that. I hope I can keep my form like this until end of the year.

RADEK STEPANEK: Yeah, I had the confidence in there because I knew I have a set in my bag, the first one. I knew if I lost two serves pretty quick, you know, in the second set, I had two breakpoints in the first set -- in the first service game. You know, I didn't make it. Then he broke me straightaway. It was a big difference, you know, to be 2-Love up, and I was 2-Love down. Then Tim, he was a bit relaxed, he was playing big shots, so that's why he won the second set 6-1. As you said, I had enough confidence, you know, to stay in the match and to fight back in the third.