Radek Štěpánek during the Davis Cup match with the Dutchman Robin Haas.
Vlastimil Vacek, Right
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Didn’t you really play tennis after the end of your career?
In fact, since the farewell (in 2018), which I was preparing for, I did not train properly. Since then, very rarely. I went to play it twice or three times a year. Now that I have the motivation in front of me, it has a different charge for me. Diet, I started exercising, as before.
What were those years like without tennis?
My life turned upside down. Tennis is and will be a part of my life, but no longer the primary one. But we are expecting a second child, so I want to be in shape because of him. It will probably require even more energy. I’m really looking forward to it. If I had received the offer to play two years ago, I would not have nodded, but now the situation is different.
Radek Štěpánek and his wife Nicole Vaidišová during a farewell to their tennis career.
Vlastimil Vacek, Right
Is the form growing?
I have the first ten minutes here when I breathe. My legs fall off sooner, but London is less than two months old, I’ll be fine there. It is played in the Royal Albert Hall, so it is also exceptional for the venue. With 90 percent of the players meeting there, I’ve had a career. Tommy Haas told me it was a unique event. I want to be ready to see Ferrero hit with Alcaraz, play Baghdatis, Haas never seems to end … I want my tennis to be watchable so it’s not in slow motion.
Kodeš compiled a sheet of Czech legends
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Tomáš Berdych will also play in London, but you will not meet in the team.
The organizers did not want it. But I knew long ago who I was playing against, when, where. I’ve never experienced that in my entire career. I’m starting against Enqvist. The first day of the night session, the next day I play with Maliss and two doubles. I’ll have my 43rd birthday (November 27). I want to enjoy it, but the main thing is to entertain the audience.
Did you have offers for training?
I rejected them. But they were interesting. I tried mine as a coach with Novak Djokovic. It’s a rarity that my first ward was a player who was one match from becoming the best tennis player of all time … The other offers were from top 10 players or grand slam winners, I appreciate that, but it has to come in handy time. For me, family is now number 1. Maybe it will happen later. But more in a mentoring role than in an everyday court.
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Tennis player Radek Štěpánek during the first match of the Davis Cup semifinals with Argentine Juan Mónak.
Vlastimil Vacek, Right
After the end of your career, you started doing business, how do you stand?
I focus on additive fuel and energy savings. We have made great progress in both sectors. Now it will finance itself. Three years of ant work so we can spread our wings is done.
Your tennis past definitely makes it easier for you to have relationships with business partners, doesn’t it?
99 percent of them know who I am. It opens doors more easily. I meet people I would have a hard time reaching and wait for meetings for half a year. This is how it will happen in two days. I feel this is a great added value. But I certainly do not dare to say that I am worn out. As Dad said: The worst is the first 20 years in tennis, and then it goes by itself. This also applies in business. I study every day, I enjoy it, I know it works. Additive fuels are a worldwide topic. It’s about being in the right place at the right time.
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