The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Stefan Koubek

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Sunday, Oct 01, 2006
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Stefan Koubek — working his way back

Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI: Stefan Koubek had an asterisk against his name as the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open singles slipped into the final phase. He was the only unseeded player in the semifinals after mastering Mario Ancic, the World No. 11, over three sets in the quarterfinals.

The Austrian, ranked 118th coming into this event, had another asterisk on his tennis log. He was banned for three months by the International Tennis Federation's anti-doping programme for a positive dope test post-French Open in 2004.

The climb up the Tour ladder has been tough for Koubek on return to the circuit after the ban for use of glucocortiscosteroid, a banned substance. The victory over Ancic shows the Austrian is high up there on the mental front even as game and body gets conditioned for challenges ahead.

"Reaching the semis in a Tour event is good enough for this week. I hope to carry this forward for the next week in Tokyo."

Ancic, coming here after a successful show at the Beijing Open (singles runner-up and doubles winner) confessed to being at the receiving end. "As we got into the final stages, Koubek had my game figured out. He was more comfortable and in control," said the Croat. The Austrian held his nerve, hit with power and picked up points against an error-prone Ancic. A masterly show, expected from one ranked 60 with three Tour titles under his belt before the ban, but difficult for one trying to pick up the pieces after three months on the sidelines.

`Doctor's fault'

Koubek is vehement the positive drug test happened to him after following doctor's advise and that he was not aware of banned substances in the medicines. "The doctor was at fault, I didn't do anything wrong but just took an injection due to a wrist injury." A noting in the Austrian's blog on the web reads: "The doctor assured me that no prohibited substances were in the medication. I sought treatment from a recognised sports physician who knows about the list of banned substances. I even asked if the substance given to me was safe."

Later an independent tribunal arrived at the conclusion that the player had not intended to take performance enhancers, but the ban stood. Koubek points out that while doping may exist in almost all of the sports, tennis pros resorting to performance boosters is difficult to accept because of the physical demands of the game. "It is difficult to dope because you need a different substance to improve each aspect of performance on court," said the 29-year-old Austrian.

Now ranked third in Austria after Jurgen Melzer and Oliver Marach, a familiar name for Indians following the ITF circuit, Koubek is taking slow, but steady steps towards tennis rehabilitation. A member of the Andre Agassi fan club, the Austrian from the land of Thomas Muster is an entertainer on court and will not lack followers if he can get back to known form.

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