I saw bits and pieces of the match when the live feed wasn't playing up. Safin pretty much blew that match in the first set, he had 4 set points and didn't convert any of them then only to see Stepanek snatch the set on his first chance. Safin was very patchy that day and didn't serve very well at all. Stepanek on the other hand played his normal reliable game.

I have seen safin's last couple of matches and he is playing 1000 times better this week than he was then. He is serving very well and his backhand is on fire.

Stepanek has been consistent without being spectacular, which is always the way with him. He will usually win when his opponent has an off day because his level of play rarely differs - it is good without ever being great.

So if you choose to back Stepanek tonight you are pretty much backing that Safin will have an off night, rather than Stepanek having a great one.