Nicknamed “Steps” by his countrymen...Began playing at age three with his father, Vlastimil, who is a tennis coach; mother, Hana, is a librarian; brother, Martin, is a policeman...His hometown of Karvina is an industrial mining town in north of Czech Republic near Polish border...Admired Ivan Lendl while growing up...Hobbies are playing soccer, floorball and hockey (wanted to be a goalie as a youngster)...His favorite NHL players are countrymen Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek.
Enjoys playing on all surfaces...Considers his serve as best shot...Since 2001, has worked with countryman Petr Korda in Bradenton, Florida part-time...Best friend on tour is countryman Jiri Novak...Married former WTA Tour pro Nicole Vaidisova in a Prague castle on 17 July 2010.
Stepanek DEUCE Feature (Jan. 2008)
Stepanek-Paes DEUCE Feature (June 2012)
2012 -- The Czech No. 2 finished in Top 50 singles for 9th time in 10 years and No. 3 in ATP Doubles Team Rankings (w/Paes)...Helped his country to Davis Cup title (d. Spain 3-2) by winning 5th and decisive rubber over Almagro in 4 sets...Best singles result was SF in Memphis (l. to Melzer) and 3 QF. Compiled records of 17-14 on hard, 4-3 on grass and 3-9 on clay. Went 1-8 vs. Top 10 opponents and lone win came over No. 8 del Potro in 2R of Toronto...In doubles (w/Paes) had 33-10 match record with titles at Australian Open, Miami and Shanghai. Reached final at US Open, and SF at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London...Finished career-high No.4 in doubles...
2011 -- The Czech Republic No. 2 (behind No. 7 Berdych) is oldest player (33) to finish in Top 50…Finished in year-end Top 30 for 6th time in 7 years…Won Washington title (d. No. 7 Monfils) at 32 to be oldest winner of the season...Also SF in Brisbane (l. to Soderling) and Munich (l. to Davydenko) and QF in Eastbourne and Tokyo...Went 1-8 vs. Top 10 opponents (d. Monfils) and compiled marks of 20-15 on hard, 7-6 on clay and 4-3 on grass...
2010 -- The No. 2 Czech (behind Berdych) finished out of Top 50 for first time in eight years…Reached 11th career final in Brisbane (l. to No. 7 Roddick)…Also a SF in Tokyo (l. to Monfils) and QFs in New Haven and Moscow…Missed two and a half months due to mononucleosis…Went 17-16 on hard courts and 1-0 on clay.
2009 -- The top Czech Republic native finished a year-end best No. 12…Helped his country to its first Davis Cup final (l. to Spain) since 1980…Won titles in Brisbane (d. Verdasco) and San Jose (d. Roddick in SF, Fish in F) while reaching final in Memphis (l. to Roddick)…Won a Davis Cup SF over Karlovic in a marathon 5:59 battle (16-14 in fifth set) with record 78 aces by the Croat…Finished season strong with QF efforts in Shanghai* and Vienna and SF showings in Basel and Paris*…Went 5-8 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled marks of 35-13 on hard, 8-6 on clay and and 3-1 on grass…Had 19-7 tie-break record and earned a career-high $1.1 million…In doubles, won 13th career title in San Jose (w/Haas).
2008 -- The Czech Republic No. 2 finished in Top 30 for fourth straight season...Reached lone ATP final in San Jose (l. to Roddick) in February and SF in four other tournaments -- Sydney (l. to Guccione), Memphis (l. to Soderling), AMS Rome (d. No. 5 Ferrer, No. 1 Federer, ret. vs. Djokovic) and Metz (l. to Tursunov)...
Best Grand Slam result was 4th RD at Roland Garros (l. to Ferrer in five sets)...Also 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Youzhny) and US Open (l. to Federer)...Went 2-7 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled marks of 21-15 on hard, 8-3 on clay and 3-2 on grass.
2007 -- The Czech Republic No. 2 (behind No. 14 Berdych) compiled his best results in second half of season to finish in Top 50 for fifth straight year...After a 10-14 start through Wimbledon, went 17-8 highlighted by his second ATP title in Los Angeles (d. No. 9 Blake) and turning in two other SF results -- Gstaad and AMS Montreal with wins over No. 6 Gonzalez, No. 12 Haas and No. 5 Davydenko (l. to Federer)...
At US Open, lost a five-sets, 4:41 marathon to No. 3 Djokovic in 2nd RD...In Davis Cup playoff tie vs. Switzerland, won fifth and decisive match vs. Wawrinka to lead his country back into '08 World Group...In October, advanced to QF in Moscow...Went 4-8 vs. Top 10 opponents...In doubles, reached finals in Adelaide (w/Djokovic) and Dubai (w/Bhupathi) and SF at Roland Garros (w/Bhupathi).
2006 -- No. 2 Czech (behind Berdych) finished in Top 20 for first time...Broke into Top 10 after Slam-best QF at Wimbledon (l. to Bjorkman)...Won first ATP title in Rotterdam (d. Djokovic, No. 6 Davydenko, C. Rochus), his 97th ATP level tournament...Runner-up at AMS Hamburg (l. to Robredo)...Suffered a neck injury while practicing at AMS Toronto and sat out rest of year...Won doubles title in Marseille (w/Damm)...Earned a career-high $820,460...
2005 -- Finished as No. 1 player from Czech Republic and in Top 25 for first time...Finalist at Milan and Ho Chi Minh City...Claimed two doubles titles (w/Damm)...
2004 -- Reached first ATP final at AMS Paris (l. to Safin)...Won three ATP doubles titles...
2003 -- No. 2 Czech (behind Novak) finished in Top 50 for first time, highlighted by two SF and two QF...In doubles, won Milan title (w/Luxa)...
2002 -- Qualified an ATP-best nine times to finish in Top 100 for first time...Jumped 484 places in ATP Rankings...Posted two SF...Won doubles title in Munich (w/Luxa)... Also finalist at US Open (w/Novak)...
2001 -- Captured three ATP doubles titles...
2000 -- Finalist at Seoul Challenger...
1999 -- Finalist at Miami Challenger...Won first career ATP doubles title in Prague (w/Damm)...
1998 -- Won Segovia Challenger and reached Pribram final...In doubles, won two Challenger titles...
