Stepanek enjoys pals’ help
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Kasım 14, 2008 00:00
SHANGHAI - Czech alternate Radek Stepanek revealed how he had to borrow Andy Murray's socks and Novak Djokovic's racquets after he was called up at the last minute for the elite Tennis Masters Cup.
Stepanek, who replaced the injured Andy Roddick, also had to buy new contact lenses ahead of his group clash with five-time champion Roger Federer.
The world number 27 arrived in Shanghai from holiday in Thailand but explained that his tennis gear, including his contact lenses, was stuck in customs.
"I had racquets from Novak Djokovic and socks from Andy. He uses the same ones I do," Stepanek smiled. It wasn't the perfect preparation for facing history's greatest player, but Stepanek managed to break the former number one in each set before going down 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Stepanek can claim the best payday of his career for his makeshift Masters. Victory over Gilles Simon today would earn him a cool $225,000 for just two matches, although he cannot now reach the semis.
However, headmitted it was a "dream" to play the eight-man season finale.
"For me it was always a dream to play in the Masters Cup because you're in the elite eight best players in the world," he said. "It's an honour for me to be here."
The world number 27 arrived in Shanghai from holiday in Thailand but explained that his tennis gear, including his contact lenses, was stuck in customs.
"I had racquets from Novak Djokovic and socks from Andy. He uses the same ones I do," Stepanek smiled. It wasn't the perfect preparation for facing history's greatest player, but Stepanek managed to break the former number one in each set before going down 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Stepanek can claim the best payday of his career for his makeshift Masters. Victory over Gilles Simon today would earn him a cool $225,000 for just two matches, although he cannot now reach the semis.
However, headmitted it was a "dream" to play the eight-man season finale.
"For me it was always a dream to play in the Masters Cup because you're in the elite eight best players in the world," he said. "It's an honour for me to be here."