Sunday’s Ageism
“We are like wine: the older we are getting, the better we are,” replied Stepanek when asked about maintaining good form into his thirties. He said he wanted to push “mother nature,” and to show that older players can compete at a top level.
Having gone through a difficult period when his tennis was hindered by injuries and a case of mononucleosis, Stepanek had a lot of pride and emotion about being able to win another tournament, particularly as the Legg Mason Tennis Classic is his biggest career title to date. “This is the thing that you are living for,” he said, adding that the win gave him “great satisfaction.”
The author and performer of “the worm” celebratory move, which he reserves for tournament wins only, Stepanek also relishes the confidence he will have coming into the ATP 1000 Masters in Montreal as a newly crowned tournament champion. “It’s a great feeling to have – when they are scared to play you,” the Czech said.
Sunday’s Control Freak
Stepanek’s strategy in the Final was to, “be in control of the match,” and to “input my style of game into his head.” He played to his strengths, varying his game and running Monfils around the court, and attacked more than in previous matches, taking chances on second serves and looking for opportunities to, as he put it, “kill the ball.”
With Monfils admitting to being “a fraction slower” than normal due to a late-night finish on Saturday, Stepanek was able to execute effectively. “It was very hard to impose my game,” the Frenchman said, Stepanek “was very aggressive today.” He added that the Czech did not miss many shots, and volleyed well.
Sunday’s Deprivation
While Monfils, who was honoring media commitments until roughly 2 am on Saturday night/Sunday morning, said he went to bed at 4 am, Stepanek did not even get to relish his opponent’s late-night struggles. When PTN asked Stepanek whether he watched the Semifinal between Monfils and John Isner, Stepanek replied, “Honestly? [pause] I fell asleep at 9:30.”
Sunday’s Back from the Brink
John Isner played only four tiebreaks in his run to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic Semifinals, and, uncharacteristically, even won a set without his opponent holding serve once (in his Quarterfinal against Viktor Troicki). But where Isner underachieved in producing his signature tiebreaks, Doubles Champions Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic took over. To win their first title together, the French-Serbian duo fought through six tiebreaks in eight sets played, with the two remaining sets going to 7-5. In addition, the winners saved several match points in the semifinal and final matches, edging out their opponents in super-tiebreaks. They beat Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau for the title, 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 10-7.
The pair’s performance during the week was further complicated by an injury Llodra had suffered to his rib in a previous tournament, an ailment that caused the Frenchman to retire from the singles competition in Washington. “This may have been the hardest way to earn our first title,” said Zimonjic in his speech during the trophy ceremony.
Sunday’s “Imma let you finish, but…”
Although Zimonjic graciously admitted that the opposing team, who had four match points, “should have won” the title, Runner-Up Robert Lindstedt was less gracious in his speech.
“These speeches are toughest to make when you lose a match you should have won,” he began, adding, “Sorry,” and pointing to Llodra and Zimonjic. “I promise not to take your money,” he added, joking – but reneged on this promise later, pretending to steal the winners’ check when it was awarded to the Champions.
He went on to congratulate his opponents, noting it could not have been “just luck” to have come back in several tight matches in a row that week. ‘I hope I never see you again on that side of the net,” Lindstedt concluded.
