Radek Stepanek undoes Andreas Beck in opening round – German Tennis Championships 2011
On Tuesday 19th of July 2011, the Rothenbaum tennis Court filled as the 1stround matches of the German Tennis Championship continued. One of the seven matches played in the day was between Andreas Beck, the
local favourite, and Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic.
Last time the two tennis professionals faced each other was at the Shanghai Open in 2009. Radek won the match but with a close call. The 32-year-old Czech has been a pro for a long time (1996). Ranked at world No.57, Radek has
been an overall performer. Having played at all kinds of courts, the Czech has a satisfying record to go through.
Rivalling the Czech international was the 25-year-old Andreas Beck from Germany. The local star has been playing professional tennis since 2003. Ranked at world No.132, Andreas had performed exceptionally well in the past few games
but this one just quite didn’t go well for him.
The match started off with the locals cheering for the home player but to no avail. Serving for the opener, the German scored the first game of the match. Stepanek served for game 2 of the match and levelled off the score. Steadily
winning on individual serves, the set led on to 6-5 after game 11 with the German International serving. The 32-year-old snatched the set 7-5 and scratched the young boy with a 1-0 lead in the match.
The world No.57, Radek, opened up the second set and the scoreboard 1-0. Beck levelled the scores 1-1 in the next game. The match intensified as it tied off at every point. Levelling the scores at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and finally
a tiebreaker, but the German could not stand a chance. Radek closed the gates for the German international to the 2ndstage as he took away the tiebreaker, set and the match 7-5, 7-6(2).
Statistically, the two rivals had been absolutely on spot. Radek, with 89 points including 64 service and 25 returners in total, cleared an important victory. His breakpoint saving percentage went to a 100 as he saved 4 out of
4. Moreover, the Czech superstar blazed 8 aces in the match to secure his win and qualify to the 2nd round to play Andreas Seppi.
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