Stepanek Next Up

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Andy will take on World No. 14 Radek Stepanek in the third round of the Paris Masters 1000, after the Czech came through a 6-4, 6-0 winner against Viktor Troicki.

They’ll play the match at 4:45pm UK time, Thursday. Sky will have live coverage of what will effectively be his second match of the day.

Of most concern for Andy will be a lack of rest. Stepanek will have been tucked up in bed by the time he came off court at 1:45am this morning.

Speaking after the win over Blake, that was at the forefront of his mind:

“I don’t know if you can recover 100%, it’s a very, very difficult thing to do,” said Andy.

“By the time I get back and have food, see my physio, it’s 4am by the time you get to bed and any athlete will tell you it’s not the easiest thing to do.

“I don’t expect to be feeling great but I’ll just try and fight as hard as I can and try and win.”

Certainly, Stepanek will present different challenges to those from Blake.

One of the last exponents of serve-volley tennis, he often looks to abbreviate points.

Andy leads the head-to-head 3-0 however, and with a bit of luck and as much rest as possible, that may extend further today.

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