Radek Stepanek thrashes Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarterfinals of BMW Open
World number 67 Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic cruised past German Philipp Kohlschreiber, ranked 42nd in the world, in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the BMW Open at the Iphitos Tennis Club in Munich on Friday.
Stepanek dropped just four games in the entire match, winning the contest 6-4, 6-0 in only one hour and 14 minutes.
Kohlschreiber broke Stepanek in the fourth game of the first set, taking a 3-1 lead. However, Stepanek broke back in the fifth game and held his next service game to tie the score at 3-3. The Czech broke again in the ninth game
and served out the set at 5-4.
Stepanek delivered a couple of aces and committed the same number of double faults in the opening set. The 32-year-old hit 49 percent of the first serves and won 71 percent of the points on them. On the other hand, Kohlschreiber
had a much better first serve percentage as he fired 75 percent of the first serves, winning 67 percent of the points on them in the first set. Stepanek capitalized on two of the three break point chances he received in the opening set. The Czech succeeded
in saving three of the four break points he faced in the first set.
After winning an evenly contested opening set, Stepanek crushed his opponent in the second set. The Czech did not allow Kohlschreiber to win a single game, winning the set 6-0.
The right-handed hit a single ace and 45 percent of the first serves in the second set. He captured 67 percent of the first service points in the second set. In comparison, Kohlschreiber delivered 59 percent of the first serves
but managed to convert just 40 percent of them into points. The German could save just one of the four break points he faced in the second set. While, Stepanek saved the only break point he faced in the second set.
Commenting on the match, Stepanek said, "It feels great to be further in a tournament again and to play the weekend matches. It’s always exciting and especially here in Munich. I have good memories here and always enjoy playing
here."
In his debut appearance at the BMW Open, former world number 8 Stepanek reached the semi-finals, losing to Rainer Schuettler of Germany in straight sets 4-6, 3-6 in 2002. The Czech was upset by another German Alexander Waske 6-7(3),
3-6 in the opening round last year.
Stepanek is slated to play Russian Nikolay Davydenko, ranked 40th in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, in the semi-finals. Davydenko defeated Croatian Marin Cilic in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
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