Vaidisova Retires, Will Marry Stepanek in July

March 16th, 2010

Vaidisova Retires, Will Marry Stepanek in July

by Tom Gainey

According to TennisReporters.net, the once-promising tennis career of Nicole Vaidisova is now over. The website has learned that the former 10 singles player has decided to retire and she will get married to longtime boyfriend Radek Stepanek.

Stepanek, who previously dated Martina Hingis, and Vaidisova have been together since the summer of 2007. Stepanek is 31, Vaidisova is 20 - cue the “ick” factor. The “Czech mates” have planned a July wedding.

It’s a little sad to see a girl with such a bright future at Nicole’s retiring at age 20, but she must feel this is the right move for her to be with Radek. And what can guys say about Stepanek?

Vaidisova was a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist at 2007 Australian Open and 2006 French Open. She also reached the quarterfinals twice at Wimbledon. She won six career WTA titles.

In her final event (she has turned down a Miami wildcard) she reached the second round in Memphis. She ranks No. 176 at the moment.

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Filed under: 2010 Season
Tags: Nicole Vaidisova, Radek Stepanek

6 Comments for Vaidisova Retires, Will Marry Stepanek in July

Rob Says:

What a talent that Stepanek is. On the court and off the court!! Nice shag.

March 16th, 2010 at 6:51 pm

Andrew Broad Says:

Actually, Nicole’s last match was a 4-6 7-6 (12/10) 7-6 (7/4) loss to 17-year-old US Open Girls’ Singles champion Heather Watson in the first round of ITF Hammond.

To lose a member of my Eternal Fanship at just 20 is devastating, as 20 is still ‘young’ in tennis-terms. Nicole is actually the youngest member of my Eternal Fanship, and has the potential for an amazing career.

Nicole’s huge serve and forehand were – and could be again – two of the biggest weapons I’ve ever seen in women’s tennis. She was also impressively versatile, and had a brilliant ability to improvise. When she reached the semi-finals of the French Open 2006 by beating Amélie Mauresmo and Venus Williams back to back, I thought she was a tremendous fighter with inner belief and inner fire.

With so many players coming back after announcing their retirements – Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, Martina Hingis, Kimiko Date Krumm, Alicia Molik – I can only hope that Nicole will join them in the future (perhaps under the name Nicole Štěpánková). Perhaps she needs a long break from tennis right now, but she’s got so many tennis-years ahead of her, and it would be a tragic shame to waste her phenomenal talent forever.

March 16th, 2010 at 6:58 pm

Von Says:

This is so sad. Maybe, she’ll have a change of heart after the wedding. She has a lot of talent but somehow her focus shifted from tennis to romance after her bout with monoand hooking up with the 8worm*. I’m hoping she’ll return and be more fired up than ever, but that will depend on how much of a positive influence Steps will be at that time. Maybe, they’ll board a catamaran and sail towards the sunset with a margarita in each hand. That’s the life baby!!…..

March 16th, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Andrew Miller Says:

Maybe Stepanek will become a coach to Vaidisova. After all, he can’t play forever! Someone’s going to have to be the bread-winner. Odds are, it’s Vaidisova dusting off the racquets after Stepanek’s decline in singles relegates him to doubles, where let’s face it, he’s no Leander Paes!

March 16th, 2010 at 9:25 pm

Jamie Says:

this is just sad to say the very least, seeing her chose marriage instead of tennis at the age of 20 and her having so much talent is heart breaking for her fans who have stuck by her. and this to me proves she wasn’t very focused on tennis these past 2 years even with having an injury.

March 16th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

REMCOM Says:

Retirement? In the women’s tour that’s just another way of saying, “I need a break!” Vaidisova will be back next year - she simply has too much talent to just think that was it.

March 17th, 2010 at 9:00 am