Experienced Czech Radek Stepanek plays Daniel Brands in his opening match at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
Stepanek is a dangerous competitor indoors particularly in these ATP 250 fields and he will be one of the favourites this week on this fast, low bouncing surface in Vienna. It will suit the Czech's aggressive serve-volley play down to the ground and he'll be looking for a decent run to take him closer to the top 20 by the end of the year.
Stepanek has competed sparsely this autumn, a fairly wise decision as he turns 33 next month, generally the age when tennis players go into their dotage but Stepanek is still managing to mix it at the highest level. He enjoyed some success on the tour early this summer, picking up the ATP 500 title in Washington.
No one expected Brands to get this far, he's currently ranked 182 in the world but the German is known for the occasional series of shock results. He made the fourth round of Wimbledon out of nowhere last year. He was not even seeded in qualifying at the weekend but battled through a series of tough three setters, winning his final round match in a final set tiebreak and then he saw off wildcard Martin Fischer 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(6) in the opening round.
Prediction: Stepanek to outclass the German in two.
