SYDNEY (AFP) — Super-fit Czech Radek Stepanek, benefiting from an off-season of high altitude training in Mexico, won through to the semi-finals of the Sydney International on Thursday.
The 32nd-ranked Stepanek brushed aside Argentina's Agustin Calleri 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semi-final against young Australian power server Chris Guccione.
Guccione came from a set down to overhaul Stepanek's Davis Cup teammate and fourth seed Tomas Berdych, winning 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in just over two hours.
Stepanek, 29, seeded 30 for next week's Australian Open in Melbourne, took to the mountains for two weeks in Mexico in his time off.
"I was running at 4700 metres where the air was very thin," he said.
"I was learning about my body, how it can get tired in 20 minutes just by walking around there. It was a great experience for me.... I'm feeling well."
Stepanek said he discovered the benefits when he returned to Florida to train for the new season.
"I noticed at sea level I was able to breathe for three other people. It was like paradise."
Stepanek has yet to play Guccione but he is aware of the challenge confronting him in their Friday semi-final.
"I've never played against Guccione, but I know he is a big server and plays serve and volley," he said.
"You have to be really ready for your chances when you get one against servers like him."
Guccione, ranked 125, blasted 19 aces past the 14th-ranked Berdych.
"It's always nice to win, but to beat Lleyton Hewitt followed by Tomas Berdych, it's not going to happen too often," Guccione said.
"It's a great start to the year for me and hopefully I can keep it going and win the title."
Guccione, 22, said of his next opponent Stepanek: "I haven't played him, but I've seen him play and he's a tricky player and obviously playing very well at the moment.
"He's got good hands, good volleys and he'll be tough to play."
Frenchmen Sebastien Grosjean and Fabrice Santoro play their quarter-finals later Thursday.
Grosjean, ranked 51, is up against powerful Russian Dmitry Tursunov, ranked 35, while 35-year-old Santoro has a match against 82nd-ranked Russian Evgeny Korolev for a place in the semi-finals.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
