Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Veteran Radek Stepanek impressed everyone including himself with an amazing service return that turned his Brisbane International quarterfinal on its head.
The 31-year-old’s legendary scrapping skills kicked in as the second seeded Czech downed American Wayne Odesnik 7-6(2) 6-1 to become the first men’s player through to the final four.
Down a break and 0-30 in the ninth game, Stepanek somehow smacked back the stocky leftie’s curling serve to spark a memorable comeback.
Distracted by what appeared to be a back/hamstring complaint and some disputed line calls, world No.105 Odesnik quickly lost it as the relentless Stepanek locked up the scores at 5-5 – and didn’t look back.
“It was an amazing return. I think it was my only return winner in the whole match,” Stepanek said.
“A leftie’s serve that kicks wide to a right hander like me is the most difficult serve to return.
“I didn’t even have my regular grip on that shot but suddenly it went in.
“To break him and make it 5-5 was very important for me, and then the tiebreak changed everything.”
World No.12 Stepanek plays the winner of Thursday night’s quarterfinal between third seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils and popular American James Blake.
While Stepanek may have produced something new to help roll Odesnik, he appeared to be up to his old tricks when he questioned his American opponent’s decision to use a medical time out to work on his troublesome back.
The 24-year-old first received treatment after the first set as Stepanek launched his fightback.
Stepanek raised eyebrows when he had a chop at his last round opponent – Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jnr – for receiving medical treatment, saying the Ukraine qualifier “ran like a rabbit”.
The veteran was at it again on Thursday when he wondered aloud why an opponent seven years his junior was breaking down in the year’s first tournament while he remained fresh.
“Maybe I am physically fitter than they are – it is the beginning of the season therefore there are some ‘injuries’,” said Stepanek, gesturing with his fingers to indicate commas for “injuries”.
“But I think everyone has some small issues to take care of, but I am avoiding my injuries now.”
After locking it up at 5-5, Odesnik steadied to force a first set tiebreak but Stepanek dominated it to win 7-2 – the only two points he lost coming on double faults.
“He felt the pressure at the end of the first set, he knew he had to serve it out, play a good game and I didn’t make any mistakes,” Stepanek said.
“It was a tough first set but if it is going to go like that I have no problem – I will try to stay unbeaten here in Brisbane.”
Meanwhile Ana Ivanovic is through to the semfinals after a brief scare from teenage Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. After winning the first set 6-2 giving up a 5-2 lead in the second, the Serbian former No.1 finally claimed the set in a tiebreaker 7-6(6).
Take a look at the most recent photo galleries
Check out the latest videos from Brisbane
In the other women’s quarterfinal played today, fourth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova was ousted by surprise packet Andrea Petkovic.
The 22-year-old Russian upset eighth seed Iveta Benesova in the first round and will now meet the winner out of tonight’s match between top seed Kim Clijsters and Lucie Safarova.